The Government has called a meeting of the Interdepartmental Drought Commission for this Thursday in order to declare an emergency in the areas served by the Ter and Llobregat reservoirs. The reservoirs that supply the region of Barcelona, ??large areas of Girona and the Costa Brava accumulate less than 100 hm3 (with a maximum of 612 hm3) and are at 15.8% of their capacity, which has crossed the threshold of maximum alert (which is located at 16.3%). It is an unusual and worrying situation for all experts, since the Barcelona region is entering unknown territory. A total of 202 municipalities and 5.9 million people will be affected by the new measures, which will be effective as soon as they are published in the DOG. With this decision, water restrictions will be intensified, which can fully reach the domestic sphere.
Here are the key measures that can change our lives in the coming months.
The total volumes of water that enter the municipal tank to supply the population cannot exceed 200 liters per inhabitant per day (including economic and commercial activities). City councils are threatened with sanctions for exceeding them.
The emergency phase will also entail an increase in restrictions for agricultural uses (80%), livestock (50%), industrial (25%) and other recreational uses (25%) as well as the prohibition of recreational uses that involve irrigation. .
The 202 municipalities affected by the entry into emergency are now authorized by the Generalitat to impose restrictions on citizens for domestic uses to maintain the supply. Local entities can reduce this consumption by reducing water pressure, although they can also make hourly cuts based on their municipal emergency plans approved in each case.
But these restrictions on municipal water supplies for all uses would become more accentuated as reserves decrease if it does not rain: in phase I of the emergency – with reservoirs below 100 hm3 – the provision is 200 liters per person. and day; In phase II (67 hm3 of reserve) it will drop to 180 liters, and in phase III (33 hm3) it is reduced to 160 liters per capita for all uses.
The metropolitan Administration, which organizes the water service in the 36 municipalities around Barcelona, ??has approved the plan to launch the operation to reduce the pressure of the water supply and respond to the restrictions imposed by the Generalitat. It was approved in the metropolitan council yesterday, Wednesday, but it was already operational.
The intention is to begin the reduction of water pressure in the municipalities that are exceeding the 200 liters per person per day for all uses, established in the allocations set by the Generalitat. The municipalities in the metropolitan area that exceed the endowment for the emergency phase are Cervelló, La Palma de Cervelló, Corbera de Llobregat, Sant Vicens dels Horts y Begues, according to data from November 2023. The metropolitan area consumes an average of 170 liters per person and day
The intention of the metropolitan authorities is not to cut off the water anywhere, since intermittent interruption causes many problems. The pipes fill with air and the resumption of service causes leaks and breaks. The idea is to reduce the water pressure “little by little, to affect the minimum number of people and try to avoid problems,” according to the will expressed by the AMB, who promises coordination between city councils, the Metropolitan Area and water companies. In any case, in each municipality the situation is different. The actions must be communicated to citizens
In application of the metropolitan plan, those who will be most affected when the pressure is reduced will be those who live on the highest floors. For this reason, it has been planned to modulate both night and day pressure, “so that the impact is minimal.” Under normal conditions, nighttime pressure is lower. And 73 critical supply points have been identified (hospitals, residences…) whose supply in perfect conditions must be especially preserved. The decrease in pressure will occur based on the need to adjust to the provisions imposed by the Generalitat.
In the metropolitan area, the criterion that is taken into account to order and organize the decrease in water pressure serves to optimize energy consumption, so the average would not necessarily affect in a homogeneous or generalized way but depends on the segments in which that the pipes have the same pressure. “We are not going to reduce the pressure without notifying the population in advance,” the AMB clarifies.
The situation in the municipality of Barcelona is more favorable, since its consumption (173 liters for all uses) gives room to delay the pressure reduction for “a few months” if it does not rain. But if the level 3 emergency is reached, no more than 160 liters could be consumed and then the decrease in pressure would also affect it. This would occur when the Ter and Llobregat reservoirs dropped to 33 hm3.
Cleaning with drinking water of streets, pavements, facades and the like, whether public or private, is prohibited, except if the cleaning is the result of an accident or fire, or there is a health risk or a risk to road safety. . Cleaning shop windows and windows with a bucket and sponge is allowed.
The use of water for irrigation of gardens and green areas, both public and private, will be prohibited; but in emergency phase 1 and 2, public irrigation for the survival of trees and botanical gardens may be carried out if it is done with regenerated water from a treatment plant or with groundwater, as long as it does not reduce the availability of water for domestic supply. . In case of reaching emergency phase 3 – the extreme phase – irrigation with non-potable water will only be allowed for the survival of trees of a unique nature. Irrigation should be carried out during hours of low sunshine and use the minimum amount of water necessary.
The irrigation of natural grass sports fields (or other surfaces that require irrigation) for the practice of federated sports may be carried out in emergency phase 1 but only with regenerated or groundwater water. In addition, additional measures equivalent to the volume of water used in irrigation must be applied, including, if necessary, the closure of showers.
If emergency phase 2 is reached, irrigation can be guaranteed in sports facilities with the same conditions as phase 1, but the showers must be closed. And in emergency 3 all sports facilities must close the showers.
The total or partial filling of all types of swimming pools (private, hotels, campsites) is prohibited. There are only exceptions for the sports sector. However, in emergency subphases I and II, an attempt is made to protect sports practice; For this reason, the partial filling of covered swimming pools registered in the census of sports equipment of the Generalitat will be allowed, as well as open swimming pools used for federated sports practice, as long as they have a water recirculation system (in the quantities essential to guarantee health quality). However, to save a volume of water equivalent to that used to refill the pool, in emergency phase II the showers will be closed.
In phases 2 and 3 of the emergency, the most restrictive ones, gyms and sports clubs will have to close showers
The filling and refilling of therapeutic use pools located in hospitals, residences and special education centers, and centers in the public care social services network will also be permitted.
As for pools with seawater, they can be filled completely or partially as long as they are filled and emptied without connection to the supply or sanitation networks.
This is the general rule with the exception of when cleaning is carried out in commercial vehicle cleaning establishments that have water recirculation systems. The use of beach showers is prohibited. The celebration of recreational events, public or private, that involve the use of water that may be suitable for human consumption is also prohibited, such as temporary or recreational ice rinks, foam parties, water games or similar. .
The use of beach showers is prohibited without any exception.
The celebration of recreational events, public or private, that involve the use of water that may be suitable for human consumption is also prohibited, such as temporary or recreational ice rinks, foam parties, water games or similar. .
Regarding ornamental fountains, artificial lakes, and other elements of aesthetic use of water, in emergencies, total or partial filling is prohibited.
But there will be an exception: the ponds that serve as a refuge for fauna in danger of extinction and for fauna intended for the recovery of native species in bodies of water. In this case, they can be filled with the minimum amount of essential water from regeneration or groundwater.
Furthermore, among other measures, the Catalan executive has approved the reduction of environmental flows in the Llobregat, Ter and Muga rivers; as well as the postponement of the start-up of new farms, hotels, and real estate developments while the drought lasts.
