How does it affect us?

In Catalonia many months have passed, since the autumn of 2006, without significant rainfall in the headwaters of the rivers, which have only received very light precipitations of less than 10 litres per square metre. This means that it is the worst drought suffered in our country since those of 1944 and 1953.

This situation makes it very difficult to supply water to the different users of this resource and obliges us to prioritise, by law, domestic supply to the whole of the Catalan population.

In the current situation and in accordance with the provisions in the Decree on drought for entering exceptional situation level 2, the uses affected by the restrictions, that is those which cannot use potable water, are:

• Watering gardens, fields, vegetable gardens, and green spaces and sports areas, either public or private.
• Washing or damping down streets, roads, paths and pavements, either public or private.
• Filling of swimming pools, ponds and fountains, private or public.
• Using hosepipes to wash vehicles except by companies engaged in this activity.

The Decree provides for the activation of the emergency scenario if water levels in the reservoirs fall below 20% of maximum capacity. Under this scenario new measures can be taken to guarantee the supply of water to the whole population.

However, it is important to understand that the declaration of an emergency situation does not mean immediate cuts to domestic supplies and that all types of measures are planned to avoid these.

In fact, with the application of all the measures adopted by the Government of Catalonia and on a local level, the risk of water cuts will be delayed as long as possible. All the same, it is hoped that rains will enable the reservoirs to recover before this emergency measure is taken and we must insist that it will only be applied if it is strictly necessary.