The Metropolitan Area of ??Barcelona (AMB) is finalizing preparations to implement the measures announced a few weeks ago: the drop in pressure in the supply in the municipalities that have the largest endowment. As of March 11, network pressure will begin to be reduced in the municipalities of Begues, Cervelló, Corbera de Llobregat, Palma de Cervelló, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Vicenç dels Horts and Tiana.
These measures have been agreed upon with the affected municipalities and the water supply companies.
All of this will be done by applying the metropolitan operational contingency plan in times of drought approved by the AMB. The objective is to lower the allocation to the maximum in order to extend resources as far as possible in case the situation does not improve in the medium term.
In general, the pressure of the water network is already adjusted for the metropolitan area to the lowest limits permitted by the regulations of the metropolitan service of the integral water cycle.
“The imminent reduction of pressure below these limit values ??of the regulation may have some effect on the service depending on different factors, especially if consumption increases compared to the current one,” warns the Metropolitan Area. “With consumption reduced and similar to the current one, the effects will be minimal and not notable,” add their spokespersons.
If the current drought situation continues, it is planned to gradually extend the pressure reduction measures in other municipalities, and those with the highest resources will be prioritized. “The evolution of the coming months will allow the affected municipalities to decide,” indicates the AMB.
This is one of the measures adopted by the AMB to address the effects of the serious drought in the metropolitan territory, after the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) declared a state of emergency. Efforts are now focused on acting to reduce demand, within the powers of the AMB.
In the coming weeks, the AMB will send a letter to all domestic users who consume more than 200 liters per inhabitant per day in which they will be asked to increase efforts to reduce water consumption and bring it closer to the current average. of the metropolitan area. There are about 24,000 domestic subscribers, which represents 1.5% of the total subscribers in the metropolitan area.
In addition, the letter also recalls that, according to the drought decrees issued by the ACA, there are a series of actions that have been prohibited, such as filling private swimming pools, watering private gardens and washing vehicles (except in specialized establishments).
In the event that it is detected that a user has used water that is not permitted, the town councils have the power to open a file against them.
These files, which will be resolved by the AMB, may entail the application of financial sanctions, in accordance with the regulations of the metropolitan water cycle service.
In the same way, the AMB will also send a specific letter to about 250 more users, considered large consumers (that is, some industries or large stores), who exceed 20,000 m3/year and who are connected to the distribution network of water.
In these cases, a summary of the water saving measures that have been implemented so far will be requested, differentiating between process water and other uses. The forecast of future measures will also be requested, in case they are specified.
The AMB maintains an open line of communication to resolve questions about water saving measures and to collaborate on the common objective of its responsible use.
In the context of the longest and most severe drought in the metropolitan territory since records exist, the AMB has been applying measures for many months to increase the amount of resources available. The main strategy is the production of regenerated water, carried out mainly at the Baix Llobregat water regeneration station along with some smaller facilities.
Currently, 25% of the water consumed by the 3.3 million inhabitants of the Barcelona metropolitan area comes from regeneration. Added to all this is the 33% from desalination, which represents that 58% of the water consumed comes from non-conventional or alternative resources, which do not depend on reservoirs or weather.
“Thanks to these strategies, it has been possible to delay the state of emergency and the application of harsher measures, such as large-scale supply restrictions,” highlights the AMB.
