The closure of showers in the gym and other measures against drought in Catalonia

The Generalitat of Catalonia is designing the mechanisms that will allow the drinking water supply to be protected beyond the restrictions already established in the Sequera Special Plan for the emergency situation.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
11 December 2023 Monday 21:21
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The closure of showers in the gym and other measures against drought in Catalonia

The Generalitat of Catalonia is designing the mechanisms that will allow the drinking water supply to be protected beyond the restrictions already established in the Sequera Special Plan for the emergency situation. In tourism, intensive livestock farming and industrial uses, measures will be established to restrict new activities or expand existing ones.

Additionally, a reduction in environmental flows in the Llobregat, Ter and Muga rivers will be proposed, which would allow more than 4.5 cubic hectometers per month to be preserved in reservoirs, thereby reducing their rate of decline by almost half.

The objective is not to further strain the demand for water and to extend its availability as much as possible. These are the extraordinary measures that will be put in place if the reservoir reserves drop to 16% on average.

It is contemplated to allow irrigation for federated sports and the filling of swimming pools for public and sports use, as long as a reduction in consumption is guaranteed through the closure of the showers in the locker rooms.

In tourism and industry, the growth of projects or the start of activities that are still approved and that require significant use of water to be developed safely will be prohibited. This measure extends to services, commercial uses and agribusiness.

In the urban sector, exceptional measures involve the implementation of new urban planning, without the need to evaluate water consumption in this case.

Authorizations for the entry of animals will not be issued for new livestock farms or for the expansion of existing ones. Likewise, the suspension of the opening of new farms or the expansion of existing ones will be decreed.