Drought takes its toll
By Alex Watkins
DROUGHT restrictions on water usage have been extended in Cataluña from 224 to 495 municipalities, more than half of the 974 total in the region and affecting approximately six million people.
This implies a 40% cut in supplies for agriculture, 15% for industry and 50% for recreational uses, as well as a prohibition on using tap water to irrigate public and private parks and gardens, or to clean streets. Trees and plants can be watered to keep them alive, but only at night and using drip irrigation or a sprinkler, while lawns cannot be watered except federated sport pitches, and golf courses have to reduce irrigation by 50%.
In all the affected areas, the regional government has reduced the allocation of water to municipal deposits from 250 to 230 litres per person, per day, taking into consideration all uses (domestic, agriculture and industrial).
This is far more than the average consumption of a household so in practice there is no real restriction on tap water at this stage.
The latest areas added are Anoia-Gaià, the head of the River Ter, Darnius-Boadella, El Empordà, El Llobregat Mitjà, Prades-Llaberia and La Cordillera Transversal, including the municipalities of Vic, Berga, Figueres and Olot.
The measures were already being applied since March in all parts of central Cataluña and Girona that are served by the reservoirs of the rivers Ter and Llobregat. The rain over the bank holiday weekend was ‘positive but still insufficient’, according to the director of the Catalan water agency (ACA), Samuel Reyes.
Reservoir reserves increased by over two cubic hectometres, which taking the restrictions into account would provide enough for a week and a half, but the run-off from the rain still has not reached the reservoirs and should add an extra 1hm3, making enough for about two whole weeks, he said.
Last weekend’s rain fell at the heads of the Ter and Llobregat, just where it was needed most, then on Monday moved towards El Vallès and Maresme.
The possibility of more rain is forecast for this weekend.
The reservoirs that supply the Barcelona area are at 25% of their capacity, when at the same time last year they had more than twice this amount.
In the worst case scenario, with no rain at all, the Barcelona area could go into an emergency situation at the beginning of September, which would imply domestic restrictions, such as reducing water pressure, cuts at certain times and others. Other sources at the ACA indicated it would have to rain constantly but not torrentially for three weeks in a row in order to restore any kind of normality.
The rain did relive the stress on plants, but there is still a high risk of fires from accumulation of very dry biomass.
Up to April, fires had increased by 60% compared to 2021 and 13% compared to 2022.
Regional government spokeswoman Patricia Plaja said: “Climate change is telling us that forest fires are no longer just a summer thing.”
Moreover, fire fighters are not allowed to fill up their planes with water from La Baells, La Llosa de Cavall and Sau reservoirs, forcing them to do so farther afield.
The forest fire plan for 20222025 is the ‘most ambitious in the region’s history’ with €74 million, including €20M for this year, tripling resources for prevention and extinguishing, and extending the campaign by 30 days. The regional government is also providing municipalities with €50M in subsidies to guarantee supplies and comply with emergency plans.
It is finalising details of how town halls can optimise resources, including reducing pressure and flow rates, and remote detection and repairs of leaks.