Drought emergency declared in 22 northern municipalities
Restrictions affect 24,000 people in Alt Empordà that depend on the Fluvià-Muga aquifer

The 22 municipalities in Alt Empordà, northern Catalonia, that depend on the Fluvià-Muga aquifer are back in emergency mode due to drought, the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) said in a statement on Tuesday.
The restrictions, which will come into force on Wednesday, affect around 24,000 people.
Water use will be limited to an average of 200 litres per inhabitant per day, a figure that includes household consumption as well as business and municipal use.
The restrictions also include a hosepipe ban, with only federated sports clubs allowed to water playing fields, and reducing irrigation for agricultural use by 80%.
The decision has been taken due to the continued decline of water reserves in the aquifer since the summer.
The municipalities affected are Agullana, Capmany, Garriguella, La Jonquera, L'Armentera, Masarac, Mollet de Peralada, Palau-saverdera, Pau, Pedret i Marzà, Peralada, Sant Climent Sescebes, Sant Miquel de Fluvià, Sant Mori, Sant Pere Pescador, Torroella de Fluvià, Ventalló, Vilabertran, Viladamat, Vilajuïga, Vilamacolum and Espolla.
These municipalities were in a state of emergency until the end of May 2024, when they moved to a state of exceptionality due to an improvement in water levels.
At the beginning of spring, five new wells in the Peralada area are expected to come into service. This €4.4 million investment will improve water management for the Fluvià-Muga aquifer from March.
The drought situation for most of the Catalan population, including those in Barcelona, remains in a state of alert.
Farmers ask for aid
Farmers in Alt Empordà county have asked the government to maintain the financial aid that they received in 2024, if they are not able to plant corn this year due to the drought emergency.

Corn is the most common cereal in summer, but last year many farmers had to plant sunflower, sorghum or winter cereals instead of corn, due to the water restrictions imposed.
The coordinator of the Farmers' Union in Alt Empordà, Xavier Frigola, asked the government for clarity in order to be able to plan in time.
Frigola pointed out that farmers will have to begin fertilizing their fields, and therefore decide which cereal to plant, in just one month.