The metropolitan area of Spain’s second city Barcelona was placed under a state of “emergency” by authorities on Thursday due to a historic drought affecting the region in the country’s north-east, where water reserves have reached critical levels. level
The decision, announced by Catalan regional government president Pere Aragonés, will result in new limits on water consumption for a total of six million residents, with particularly strong restrictions for industry and agriculture.
“Catalonia is suffering from its worst drought in a century. We have never faced such a long and intense episode since we have been keeping rainfall records,” Mr Aragonés explained during a press conference, adding that the lack of rain had persisted. For more than three years.
Catalan authorities had been preparing public opinion for weeks that a state of emergency would be declared if the level of reservoirs storing rainwater for use during the dry months fell below 16%.
However, this level has been reached in recent days, with the persistence of dry weather intensifying the already severe drought of land along the Catalan coast in both France and Spain.
Entry into the first phase of the state of “crisis”, which includes three, will result in significant restrictions for agriculture, which will have to reduce its water consumption by 80%, and for industry, which will have to limit it to 25%. %.
The maximum average consumption ceiling for residents of the 202 municipalities in the region affected by the restrictions has been slightly reduced and will be reduced further if the situation worsens.
Except in some municipalities where pressure will drop, the move will not cut tap water for residents. But on the other hand restrictions are planned for areas not respecting this maximum threshold.
The emergency plan also prohibits filling swimming pools, even for a simple upgrade, except for public sports facilities that save water on another level.
Watering of green spaces is now prohibited except for potable water in public parks and when the survival of trees is at risk. The same goes for a car wash.
In recent weeks, regional authorities have not refused to supply water to Barcelona using tankers.
Published on February 1 at 12:49 pm, AFP
(TagsToTranslate)Agriculture
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