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This afternoon I was in the Sau reservoir, in Osona, to do this photographic report for La Vanguardia's Readers' Photos and, at the same time, to contemplate a desolate and sad landscape.
The lack of water gives us a vision of the severity of the drought we are currently experiencing. I hope it rains and the reservoir fills at least to a reasonable capacity to be able to supply water to the sector that is currently lacking.
We are going badly when the restrictions start and it doesn't look like it will rain or snow. Climate change is making summers and heat increasingly longer. We expect a change in the climate towards more normal winter temperatures and not spring temperatures like the ones we are having now.
This Thursday, the Generalitat declared a drought emergency in Barcelona and its metropolitan area and in Girona and its surroundings, given the serious situation of the reservoirs that supply these areas due to the lack of rain. Sau is at 4% of its capacity. 202 municipalities that were in pre-emergency and totaling 5.9 million inhabitants will be affected.
An emergency has been declared in the Ter-Llobregat system after the reserves of these reservoirs have fallen below 100 cubic hectometres.
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.
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 permitted.
