Catalonia Restricts Water Use As Spain Begs For Rain

(CTN NEWS) – CATALONIA – Water restrictions are being enforced in Barcelona and huge portions of northeastern Spain as a prolonged drought that has destroyed crops begin to impact daily life in the Mediterranean nation.

According to Patricia Plaja, a spokesperson for the Catalan government, the measures will impact 6.7 million people or 80% of the population in the Catalonia area.

Plaja claimed that for the time being, there wouldn’t be a need to restrict the amount of water used for drinking, cooking, or washing in private residences.

But her government advised individuals to “be mindful of the unusual circumstances the country is facing.”

Catalonia’s Water Limitations, What Are They?

Water usage for crops and industry irrigation will be reduced due to the regulations, which go into effect on Friday.

Residents of cities won’t be able to fill swimming pools or wash the outside of their homes or cars with drinking water.

More than 500 town halls, including Barcelona, must stop reusing drinking water to sanitize streets or fill public fountains.

Spain’s crops and ecology have suffered because of below-average rainfall that analysts associate with global climate change. This has caused reservoirs to become smaller.

After Seville implemented similar regulations in September due to a very dry and hot summer, Barcelona is now the second major Spanish city to limit water use.

Catalonia Will Suffer Droughts “longer and more frequently.”

According to Spain’s ministry for the ecological transition, Catalonia’s water reservoirs are just 34% full, while those in southern Spain near Seville are currently the driest.

A severe drought in Spain in 2008 compelled government officials to ship water to Barcelona to ensure domestic consumption.

“Spain imports water by ship
Drought in Spain’s north-eastern region of Catalonia grew so severe in 2008 that Barcelona began importing water by ship from France. About 70% of Spain’s water goes to agriculture, and much of it is wasted through a combin…” https://t.co/zk67I52voR

— Panama Rock Radio and News (@panamarhradio) January 1, 2020

This prompted the building of the largest desalination plant in Europe, according to local authorities, with the ability to produce 60 million litres of water annually, close to Barcelona.

They claim that it is currently operating at 90% of its potential.

“Catalonia will suffer longer and more frequent droughts as a result of climate change.”

Even if rains do ultimately come, according to Plaja, “the climate background (means) that Catalonia will experience longer and more frequent droughts,” similar to other parts of Spain and the region at large.

According to climatologists, the Mediterranean is one of the world’s regions that would be most negatively impacted by rising temperatures brought on by climate change.

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