BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona and surrounding areas in northeastern Spain’s Catalonia region are preparing for tougher water restrictions as reservoirs shrink to record lows due to a historic drought.
Catalan authorities are expected to declare a state of drought emergency on Thursday for the region of 6 million people after water reserves, the threshold for new water-saving measures, fell below 16% of carrying capacity. is.
“Our reserves are less than 16%. The situation around Barcelona and Girona is critical, so we need to take stronger measures,” Catalan government official Laura Vilagra told Spanish state radio on Wednesday. He told broadcaster RNE.
The state of emergency will reduce the amount of water allowed for residential and municipal purposes from 210 liters per person per day to 200 liters. Agriculture and industry will also be cut. According to Catalonia’s Water Authority, the average resident uses 116 liters per day at home.
The area affected by the state of emergency extends from northern Catalonia to the French border. The Ebro River flows into the sparsely populated southern part of the region, which is in good condition. Southern Spain is also suffering from drought.
Catalonia has recorded below-average rainfall for 40 consecutive months. Experts say climate change is causing droughts and the entire Mediterranean region is expected to warm faster than many other parts of the world in the coming years.