Drought Emergency in Catalonia: Measures, Stages, and Impacts

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Catalonia has entered a drought emergency, a move announced by the Generalitat Government on Friday, February 2. This unprecedented situation affects around 6 million people in the Barcelona and Girona regions, with daily per-person water use capped at 200 liters.

What are the drought stages, and what measures does the Generalitat implement in this scenario?

Drought scenarios

The emergency phase is the third and most severe level among the four proposed stages, signaling very serious conditions.

Stages:

1. Warning phase: administrative and operational preparation for the effective start of a drought declaration.

2. Phase 1 of Reductions: cutting consumption through incentives and deterrents, increasing resource availability by reallocating uses and conducting rapid impact studies.

3. Phase 2 restrictions: lowering consumption by strengthening coercive measures with higher socioeconomic consequences.

4. Emergency Phase 3: very serious scenarios with wide-reaching economic and social effects.

The Generalitat has introduced strict and highly impactful restrictions during this period.

Practical consequences of the emergency phase

Emergency phase 3 unfolds in three steps: initially, water resources are limited to 200 liters per person per day across all uses, then drop to 180 and 160 liters in the second and third steps, while other restrictions tighten.

Under this framework, irrigation for agriculture is cut back by 80 percent, irrigation for livestock by 50 percent, and industrial irrigation by 25 percent, with similar reductions applying to recreational use.

Additionally, drinking water may not be used to clean urban areas. Reclaimed or groundwater usage is allowed unless an accident or fire occurs.

Households are encouraged to conserve; car washing is restricted to facilities with water recycling systems.

How will the declaration of a state of emergency affect daily life?

The drought emergency brings the strictest usage limits seen to date and will alter water usage for six million residents in the Barcelona metro area and much of the surrounding province for the duration of the emergency.

Here are ten major measures:

1. Reduce pressure at the faucet: the AMB has an approved plan to lower water pressure. This will not be applied in all buildings by default, especially high-rises, where water cannot reach upper floors. Reductions will begin in municipalities that exceed 200 liters per person per day, such as Cervelló, Palma de Cervelló, Corbera de Llobregat, Sant Vicens dels Horts, Begues, and others; Barcelona itself uses around 173 liters per person daily. Savings may be noticeable mostly in those areas.

2. Car washing prohibited: cars may only be washed at organizations equipped with water circulation systems.

3. Home conservation guidance: households are urged to keep saving water, with practical steps like turning off showers while soaping. Government guidance suggests keeping consumption below 90 liters per person per day at home.

4. Street cleaning with alternatives: drinking water cannot be used for street cleaning, except to address accidents or fires, while reclaimed or groundwater may be used. Many municipalities already rely on groundwater, similar to Barcelona, which currently consumes about 173 liters per person daily. Car washing remains restricted to facilities with water circulation systems.

5. Industrial and agricultural reductions: the same reductions apply to agricultural irrigation (80%), livestock irrigation (50%), and industrial irrigation (25%), with additional moratoria on new water-intensive projects such as certain farms, expansions, tourism ventures, and new urban plans.

6. Saltwater pool policy: during the Easter period or summer, hotel and camping pools can only be filled with saltwater; fresh water filling is prohibited. Exceptions exist for indoor pools listed in the Generalitat’s sports equipment census and for outdoor pools used for federated sports practices if they have recirculation systems and meet sanitary requirements. Phase II may allow limited filling, and showers may be closed during the phase II transition.

7. Beach showers and water-based events: summer beach showers are suspended, and public or private water-based recreation like ice rinks and foam parties are barred.

8. Garden and green space irrigation: watering gardens and green areas is prohibited, except to sustain trees or public botanical gardens using reclaimed or groundwater; many municipalities, including Barcelona, already practice this. In Emergency Phase III, non-potable irrigation is permitted only to protect individual or monumental trees.

9. Limited turf irrigation: natural grass sports fields required for federated activities may be watered with reclaimed water or groundwater, provided there is no impact on domestic supply and additional water-saving measures are in place at the facility.

10. Fountains and rivers: ornamental fountains and artificial lakes cannot be filled unless necessary for endangered fauna, using replenishment from groundwater. River flows are being reduced to maintain reservoir levels, a move contested by environmental groups who argue it harms biodiversity.

Economic concerns

Josep Santacreu, president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, urged broad consensus to confront Catalonia’s ongoing drought, warning that water scarcity could become a structural issue. He noted that while rainfall in February might ease conditions, long-term policy gaps remain, particularly around desalination and water reuse. Other observers warn that drought could significantly impact the Catalan economy, with critics calling for better resource management and planning of water resources. The phrase d’on no n’hi ha, no en raja underscores calls for accountability in drought management and in monitoring water concessions granted by the Catalan Water Agency. Projections from the ACA anticipate ongoing reductions in water availability through 2050 due to climate change, signaling a new normal that requires residents to use water more responsibly and governments to adapt quickly.

Desalination plants and regeneration

Two key desalination facilities in Catalonia play a central role in the adaptation plan. The Tordera plant near Blanes, operating since 2002, and the El Prat facility opened in 2009, together supply about 80 cubic hectometers of drinking water annually, roughly matching the metro area’s four-month demand. The Generalitat plans to invite bids for a 250 million euro expansion of the Tordera desalination plant this year, although no further plants are currently planned. In addition, water regeneration or reuse—where wastewater undergoes treatment to become usable again—remains a core strategy, with plans to double the volume of renewed water in the coming years.

That concludes the current summary of measures and ongoing responses to the drought, reflecting a broader effort to secure water for residents, businesses, and essential services amid shifting climate conditions.

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