Catalonia declares a water emergency due to drought

The Spanish holiday region of Catalonia has declared a state of emergency due to ongoing drought. Water consumption is being drastically limited, which is particularly hard on farmers. There has been too little rain in the region for years.

There has been too little rain in Spanish Catalonia for more than three years. Now the resulting water shortage has reached such a drastic level that the region’s government has declared a state of emergency.

The associated restrictions will apply from tomorrow in the Catalan regional capital Barcelona and 201 other municipalities. Six million of the region’s total population of around eight million are affected. More than 30 municipalities had already declared a state of emergency before the government’s order, while in other municipalities a so-called preliminary state of emergency applied.

Maximum 200 liters of water per day

From tomorrow, every citizen in the affected areas will be allowed to use a maximum of 200 liters of water per day. If the drought in Catalonia continues or even worsens, the limit can be reduced to 180 liters in a second phase and to 160 liters per person per day in a third phase. As long as the state of emergency was in effect, the limit was a maximum of 230 liters that could be consumed daily.

Cars, streets and sidewalks are no longer allowed to be washed for the time being. Private pools may only be filled with recycled water. Private and public gardens and parks may only be irrigated under certain circumstances and then only with recycled water.

Farmers particularly affected by requirements

But the restrictions hit agriculture particularly hard. The industry should reduce its water consumption by 80 percent. The livestock industry should halve its water consumption and industry should save 25 percent of water. Violations of the regulations result in fines of up to 150,000 euros.

Catalonia has so far avoided even harsher cuts because 55 percent of the water used in the region now comes from desalination or recycling plants. The Spanish government is spending millions of euros on more such systems.

Worst drought in at least 100 years

Catalonia’s regional president Pere Aragonès spoke of the worst drought since records began around a century ago. It has been far too dry in Catalonia for around 40 months. Already at the beginning of this year, the thermometer climbed to almost 30 degrees Celsius in some parts of Spain – temperatures that are normally recorded from June onwards.

As a result, the water levels in the water reservoirs have fallen drastically. On average, the reservoirs are only about 16 percent full. Some are practically empty. For comparison: about a year and a half ago, the reservoirs were still a good 60 percent full.