Catalonia declares an emergency due to drought in 202 municipalities, also the areas of Barcelona and Girona

MAP | Check the restrictions and alert level municipality by municipality

Mascort says it will come into force when it is published this Friday in the Dogc

This Thursday, the Generalitat declared an emergency due to drought in Barcelona and its metropolitan area and in Girona and its surroundings, given the situation of the reservoirs that supply these areas due to the lack of rain, and 202 municipalities that were in pre-emergency will be affected. and which total 5.9 million inhabitants.

This was announced by President Pere Aragonès and the Minister of Climate Action, David Mascort, at a press conference after the extraordinary meeting of the Interdepartmental Drought Commission, where it was decided to declare an emergency in the Ter-Llobregat system after the The reserves of these reservoirs have fallen below 100 cubic hectometers, the threshold for entering an emergency.

The Special Drought Plan consists of 3 phases, and this Thursday the first was declared, which involves going from a water supply of 210 liters per inhabitant per day from the pre-emergency phase to 200; and according to Minister Mascort it will come into force "this Friday" when it is published in the Official Gazette of the Generalitat of Catalonia (Dogc).

In this first phase, irrigation of trees and botanical gardens is also prohibited, except for survival and with regenerated or groundwater water; the filling of ornamental fountains and lakes, unless it is for the preservation of native or at-risk species; and car washing is prohibited, except if it is in businesses dedicated to this function and with reclaimed water.

Regarding the filling of swimming pools, gyms and sports clubs with covered swimming pools registered in the census of sports equipment of the Generalitat may do so, and also those uncovered all year round for federated sports, but the water expenditure must be compensated with the partial closure of showers.

The same happens in the case of federated sports that require irrigation, such as football, which in phase 1 will be able to irrigate the fields but must compensate for the cost of water with showers; and in emergencies, the use of showers or foot cleaning facilities on the beaches or activities such as water or foam parties will not be allowed.

At the press conference, the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, highlighted that before activating the Drought Plan and increasing the production of the desalination plants, regenerated water represented "a little more than 15% of the total water that reached "Catalan homes", and which, however, currently represents more than 55%.

He highlighted that there has been "an extraordinary effort" to activate water production mechanisms, and highlights actions such as the expansion of the Tordera desalination plant (Girona) and the new Foix desalination plant (Barcelona).

Aragonès also highlighted that the Catalan agricultural and livestock sector is the one that "until today is largely supporting the water reduction effort", something for which he thanked them and called for other sectors to join in, such as industries, recreational activities and the services.

"We must thank the establishments, companies and farms that have put measures in place for more efficient use of water. And to those that have not done so, remind them that they have support measures available," he added.

REDUCTION OF ECOLOGICAL FLOWS

Mascort has recalled that in an emergency the ecological flows of the Ter river - to 600 liters per second -, Muga - to 40 - and the Llobregat - to 250 liters - will be reduced, and that there will be 'hydrotips', that is That is, more water will be released twice a week for six hours: in the Ter it will be 3,000 liters per second; in the Muga 300; and in the Llobregat 500.

Regarding the demand presented by Ecologists of Catalonia against the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) for the reduction of ecological flows, Mascort has defended that this measure "is foreseen" in the Special Drought Plan and in the agreements of the table del Ter, and that if it finally goes to trial, the Ministry will defend that it is a decision covered by these agreements.