When, a few weeks ago, President Aragonès presented again his proposal for a clear agreement to hold a referendum, the only thing that was clear is that the main problem in Catalonia is the drought. And there are three main reasons: because it does not rain, because the water we have is not used properly and because the administrations have not done their homework to solve a problem that experts have been announcing as cyclical for some time and that is aggravated by change. climate.
Logically, the impact and solutions are different depending on whether it is large cities or rural areas and whether or not there is an irrigation system. In urban centers and tourist areas, the main problem is the supply of drinking water and the authorities are monitoring with drones or binoculars (new technologies are not available to everyone) so that the scarce existing water is not used to maintain green the garden areas or fill the swimming pools.
In the rural world, and especially in dry regions, the mark left by drought produces greater shocks and despair. It is one thing not to be able to water your garden and another thing is to see how the thirsty cereal crops are not going to give the grains “fruit of sweat”, as that jota dedicated to farmers sings. And it is different, too, to observe day by day how the trees and plants fade away, and their branches and stems shrink, marking the prelude to the end of their lives or, at least, the reduction, if not liquidation, of their fruits.
The economic and social impact of drought accentuates its severity when there are solutions to avoid it. In the town where I was born and in many others, they can only look at the sky and hope that it rains. There, there is no water to govern. But in Barcelona, ​​where I live, and in many other cities, it is manifestly irresponsible not to manage the water that is available and guarantee its availability, whether it rains or not, through its regeneration.
The solution does not involve transferring the responsibility to the municipalities. Collaboration between administrations and stakeholders is essential to create consensus and urgently carry out investments that put an end to the resounding inaction, recognized by those in charge of the Catalan Water Agency themselves.
Catalonia is also fortunate to have one of the most cutting-edge companies in the world, internationally renowned for the efficiency 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 adopted earlier and presented a project to be financed with Next Generation funds, to regenerate water in the metropolitan area and Don’t depend on the rain. Have the administrations done their homework and timely processed this project? It is not clear. What is part of the clarity is that the EU has opened a file because Catalonia has not submitted 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 her. Well, apply your philosophy and innovation to the water cycle and with your regeneration we will obtain the most sustainable, constant and reliable way of increasing water resources. And do it by collaborating with those who know about it, although for some it is taboo due to the fact that it is private. We will all win.
