Catalonia announces new water restrictions amid serious drought

Catalonia announces new water restrictions amid serious drought

Published February 28,2023


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The authorities of Catalonia introduced Tuesday it’ll implement new water restrictions on almost 6 million folks as a result of a drought that has lasted greater than two years.

“We are facing a situation of extreme seriousness, and we should react accordingly,” mentioned Environment Minister Teresa Jorda, explaining that Catalonia has not skilled such an intense drought since 1905.

The measures will have an effect on 224 municipalities, together with Barcelona and Girona.

The Ter-Llobregat water system, which feeds massive components of the Spanish area, is at 27% capability because of 25 months of hardly any rain.

The affected space will now transfer from “yellow” water restrictions to “orange restrictions.”

When the brand new measures take impact, residents will now not have the ability to water inexperienced areas like decorative gardens in personal and public areas. Only bushes can be allowed to be calmly watered to make sure their survival.

Agricultural actions can even have to cut back their water utilization by 40% — a major leap from the present discount threshold of 25%. Meanwhile, industrial water use must lower by 15%.

At the identical time, it will likely be forbidden to scrub streets with drinkable water and residents can be restricted to consuming a most of 230 liters (61 gallons) of water per day.

The final time Catalonia adopted the restrictions was in 2008. That yr, the drought bought so unhealthy that the federal government needed to import ingesting water by ship for Barcelona.

If the drought worsens, Jorda mentioned the realm is taking a look at potential water cuts as quickly as the autumn.

The Sau reservoir within the province of Barcelona can even be emptied as a result of the water degree is so low that it runs the chance of blending with mud to the purpose of turning into undrinkable, mentioned the federal government.

Its present degree of 15% capability additionally threatens fish residing within the water.

Source: www.anews.com.tr