The Catalan Government has finalized all the definitive content that the Drought Plan will have when it enters the emergency phase. In this sense, the Executiu has given the green light to an agreement that involves a series of specific modifications to this plan to make restrictions more flexible. These would come into force when the reservoirs are below 16% in the Ter and Llobregat rivers (now they are at 16.8%), which is why it is expected that they will come into force in two weeks. This flexibility affects sports facilities and gyms, and the possibility of irrigating with groundwater water.
However, in the emergency phase, the celebration of recreational events, public or private, that involve the use of water that may be suitable for human consumption will be prohibited. The list includes temporary or recreational ice rinks, foam parties, water games or similar. Councilor David Mascort announced what the drought plan will look like in the face of the imminent emergency.
The forecasts continue to be very weak rains in the coming weeks and even scarcer in the medium term, which suggests the imminent entry of the emergency, according to Councilor David Mascort.
“We have made some measures more flexible to adapt to the current moment, which is different from the moment when the Drought Plan (2020) was approved,” the councilor justified.
The use of water to irrigate gardens and green areas, both public and private, will be prohibited (as the Drought Plan said); but changes and exceptions have been introduced in the scenario focused on emergency phase I (which involves 200 liters/inhabitant/day for all uses) and II (180 liters/inhabitant/day).
Thus, a first flexibility is that public survival irrigation of trees and botanical gardens can 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. “We have all seen the temperatures in summer; shadows are essential, says the counselor.
Irrigation should be carried out during hours of low sunshine and use the minimum amount of water necessary. If emergency phase III is reached, irrigation with non-potable water will only be allowed for the survival of trees of a unique nature.
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 I (200 liters/inhabitant/day), but these conditions must be met: , regenerated water or groundwater must be used, and two, a volume of water equivalent to that used in irrigation must be saved by applying additional measures in the sports facility itself.
If emergency phase II is reached (180 liters per day per inhabitant), irrigation can be guaranteed in sports facilities under the same conditions as phase I, but with the condition that the showers are closed.
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.
In the emergency phase, the total or partial filling of all types of swimming pools is prohibited, but exceptions have been introduced in the following cases: In emergency phases I and II, partial filling of indoor swimming pools registered in the census will be permitted. of sports equipment of the Generalitat of Catalonia and of outdoor swimming pools (in federated sports practice) that have a water recirculation system. But to do this, they must save a volume of water equivalent to that used to fill the pool by applying additional saving measures in the same sports facility, which may include closing the showers. In emergency II, in addition to the conditions established in phase I, the showers must be completely closed.
The filling and refilling of swimming pools for therapeutic use located in hospitals, residences and special education centers, and centers of the public care social services network, as well as in swimming pools intended for bathing of people who have an evaluation, will also be permitted. of the degree of disability in which it is known that they suffer behavioral alterations. 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.
Cleaning of any type of vehicle is prohibited, except when cleaning is carried out at commercial vehicle cleaning establishments that have water recirculation systems.
The use of showers and foot cleaning facilities on the beaches and the celebration of recreational events, public or private, that involve the use of water that may be suitable for human consumption, such as temporary ice rinks or for recreational use, foam parties, water games or similar.
In the event of reaching the Emergency III phase (160 liters per inhabitant per day) in the regulated exploitation units, and in a state of emergency in the non-regulated exploitation units (those that depend on rainfall or aquifers), the use of the showers in the sports facilities.
Apart from the modified measures in the Government agreement, the saving measures established by the Drought Plan in the emergency scenario are all the limitations of the alert and exceptional phases with the following additions:
–Thus, an 80% reduction in agricultural irrigation, 50% in livestock uses and 25% in water consumption by industrial users and a reduction in water consumption in recreational uses (25% in comparable uses) are expected. to urban and total suppression of irrigation). However, the councilor specified that in all these cases, the provisions can be complemented with regenerated water from a wastewater treatment plant, at the expense of the user, as long as there is availability of flows.
–In addition, the holders of these benefits can choose to propose a savings plan to the Administration and a lower reduction percentage can be resolved, taking into account the effects in each case.
–Local administrations, through their emergency plans, may establish additional limitations/prohibitions on the use of water in sports, public/private facilities and recreational spaces.
–Non-domestic users will apply the measures provided for in the savings plans.
–A maximum provision of 200 liters per inhabitant per day is established, which can drop to 160 in case of extreme emergency.
— The entities providing the water supply service will apply the measures of their emergency plans, which may include pressure reductions and even temporary suspension in the provision of the supply service.
— The Government may establish, at the proposal of a department or local authorities, specific exceptions to the limitations/prohibitions for reasons of public interest.
The Government has also approved a second agreement aimed at temporarily delimiting various activities that involve large consumption, while the drought emergency situation is activated, which will stop the implementation of industrial facilities in the tourism, livestock or urban development sectors.
This way, the project will have to be evaluated and its compatibility with the restrictions derived from the state of emergency will be seen. The processing of these activities will continue but no new ones may be authorized.
Regarding livestock activities, the General Directorate of Agriculture and Industry will not be able to give authorizations for the entry of animals to new livestock farms or for the expansion of existing ones. The operation of new farms or the expansion of existing ones will also be suspended as long as the availability of water is not guaranteed to guarantee animal well-being.
Finally, the Department of the Interior, through the General Directorate of Civil Protection, will monitor the impact on the population that the evolution of the drought may have. In this sense, if necessary, depending on the situation at any given time, Civil Protection will put the Territorial Civil Protection Plan of Catalonia (PROCICAT) on pre-alert in order to monitor the situation.
