The prolonged drought that Catalonia is suffering is about to cross the red line that marks the entry of the emergency phase. The Ter and Llobregat hydrological unit, which supplies more than 200 municipalities in the metropolitan area of ??Barcelona and part of Girona, is already at 16.34%, very close to the limit of 16%, from which the Generalitat will establish this Thursday the emergency declaration.
The measure implies restricting water consumption to a maximum of 200 liters per inhabitant per day for all uses – consumption in the Barcelona metropolitan area is 173 liters per person per day, according to data obtained last November -, but These provisions would progressively decrease if it continues without rain. At the same time, other limitations remain that affect, among others, the cleaning of vehicles, so it is important to keep in mind the need to adopt practices to avoid contravening the limitations imposed by the regulations.
In an emergency scenario, as the Generalitat will activate in the 202 municipalities of the metropolitan area of ??Barcelona and part of Girona, you will not be able to wash the car on your own. You will have to take it to a commercial establishment with a water recirculation system.
In all scenarios prior to the emergency situation, the Generalitat establishes that the only commercial establishments where you can take your car to be washed must have a water recirculation system. Up to this point, everything is the same.
However, in the pre-emergency phases, washing the car outside of these establishments is allowed as long as cleaning is limited to glass, mirrors, rear-view mirrors, lights and license plates with a bucket and sponge in the case of private vehicles. In all cases it is recommended to use the smallest amount of water possible, which is why it is not allowed to use a hose.
In the alert scenario, certain vehicles are allowed to wash outside commercial establishments equipped with water recirculation systems. They are the following: vehicles transporting food, animals, ambulances and others, when necessary to maintain the safety and health of people and animals, are outside the regulations.
In exceptional and pre-emergency scenarios, the cleaning of vehicles outside commercial establishments is only allowed to maintain the safety and health of people and animals. These include vehicles transporting food, transporting animals (live or dead), ambulances, medical vehicles and transporting medicines and waste. In all cases, it will always be done with the minimum possible use of water.
The Generalitat’s Drought Portal offers citizens all the information related to water reserves in Catalonia, as well as the restrictions that are in force. In the drought viewer section you can check the status of the internal basins and the scenario in which each of them is located. Currently, there are 2 in a normal state, 2 in alert, 8 in exceptionality, 3 in pre-emergency and 3 in emergency. Through a search engine, you access information related to a specific municipality.
The Catalan Water Agency is in charge of establishing common measures for the application of water use, but it does not implement a sanctioning regime. In the specific case of the misuse of water for washing the car, it is up to those in charge of sanctioning the offenders, either through a preventive notice or a fine. For example, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) divides infringements in drought situations into three levels. Minor infractions, which include car washing, can reach up to 750 euros. The serious ones range from 751 to 1,500 euros. And the very serious ones can reach 3,000 euros.
According to data from the Ecology and Development Foundation, it is estimated that the amount of water used to wash a car in the case of a manual wash amounts to up to 80 and 100 liters per vehicle. This amount increases significantly if the cleaning is carried out in a car wash, with between 250 and 300 liters being used for each car.
Yes, ecological washing consists of cleaning the car by drastically reducing water consumption, replacing it with ecological products. To do this, elements are used that collect dust and dirt particles, being more efficient than water, as Confortauto explains in his blog.
As a substitute for water, a chemical product is used that collects dirt particles. Once the dust has been trapped, the body of the car is cleaned with a microfiber cloth to avoid scratches. In addition, by incorporating chemical products it leaves the surface of the vehicle waxed and protected from the sun, unlike traditional washing, which is more harmful since water eventually oxidizes the metal.