When a few weeks ago President Aragonès again presented his proposal for a clarity agreement to hold a referendum, the only thing that became clear was that the main problem in Catalonia is the drought. And the main reasons are three: because it does not rain, because the water we have is not used well and because the administrations have not done their homework to solve a problem, which experts have long announced as cyclical and which is aggravated by climate change.
Logically, the impact and solutions are different depending on whether it is big cities or rural areas and whether or not an irrigation system is available. In urban centers and tourist areas, the main problem is the supply of drinking water and the authorities monitor with drones or binoculars (the new technologies are not available to everyone) so that the scarce existing water does not become serve to keep garden areas green or to fill swimming pools.
In the rural world, and especially in dryland regions, the imprint left by the drought produces more shock and despair. It is one thing not to be able to water the garden and quite another to see how the thirsty crops of cereals will not yield the grain “fruit of sweat”, as that jota dedicated to farmers sings. And it is also quite different to observe day by day how the trees and plants go out, and the branches and stems shrink, marking the prelude to the end of their life or, at least, the diminution, if not the liquidation, of the its fruits
The economic and social impact of the drought accentuates its gravity when there are solutions to avoid it. In the town that saw me born and in so many others, they can only look at the sky and hope it rains. There, there is no water to govern. But in Barcelona, ​​where I live, and in so many other cities, it is manifestly irresponsible not to govern the water we have and guarantee its availability, whether it rains or not, through regeneration.
The solution is not to transfer the responsibility to the municipalities. The collaboration between administrations and actors involved is essential to create consensus and urgently execute the investments that put an end to the resounding inaction, recognized by the Catalan Water Agency officials themselves.
Catalonia is also fortunate to have one of the most leading companies in the world, internationally renowned for the effectiveness of its management in providing innovative solutions. And speaking of solutions, I remember an interview in this newspaper in which the president of Agbar, Ãngel Simón, regretted that measures had not been taken earlier and presented a project to be financed with Next Generation funds, to regenerate the water in the ‘metropolitan area and not having to depend on the rain. Have the administrations done the relevant duties and processed this project in a timely manner? It is not clear. What does form part of the clarity is that the European Union has opened a file because Catalonia has not presented its water management plan.
The need to combat climate change has made the circular economy fashionable. There is no politician who does not talk about it. Well, it is necessary to apply its philosophy and innovation to the water cycle and with its regeneration we will obtain the most sustainable, constant and reliable way to increase water resources. And it must be done in collaboration with those who know about it, even if for some it is taboo due to the fact that they are private. We will all win.
