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The flow level of the Sau reservoir is at historic lows, less than 3%, a circumstance that is causing an unexpected drama. Animals like wild boars die after being trapped in the mud when they come close to drinking water, as seen in La Vanguardia's Readers' Photos.
We can also see in the images how the quality of the little water that is stored in the Sau reservoir is deteriorating.
Specifically, the level of the swamp is only 2.70%, when last year at this time it was at least 17.45%, despite the fact that the average for the last five years was 106%.
One of the images that denotes the extent to which the Sau reservoir is a symbol of the drought is that you can almost completely see the entire old mill of the town that was submerged under the waters of the reservoir.
The origins of Sant Romà de Sau take us back to the 10th century. At that time, although it was a small town, it had a few farmhouses, a few houses, a mill, and a Romanesque church.
From the end of the 14th century it had a bridge, with five arches, which was the most notable of those that crossed the River Ter. The church bell tower has always remained the most emblematic element of Sant Romà de Sau, because it was the only element that was exposed when the water level dropped a little. But, with the drought, competition from the old mill has arisen.
This infrastructure attests to the economic activity that the town had in the past. At its peak it had 1,138 inhabitants in 1857, although at the time it had to be abandoned to make way for the reservoir, there were close to 300.
