Water restrictions come into effect in 24 municipalities due to ongoing drought
First time Catalonia limits consumption to 200 liters per person
Water restrictions have come into effect in 22 municipalities in northern Catalonia's Alt Empordà county and 2 in Baix Camp county in the south.
This comes a week after the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) declared a water emergency at the Fluvià-Muga aquifer in Alt Empordà and the reservoir of Riudecanyes in Baix Camp - the first time Catalonia, currently in the midst of a three-year drought, activates the highest water alert warning.
Water consumption is limited to 200 liters per person. The 26,000 people who live in the 24 municipalities are also no longer allowed to water gardens and green areas or fill fountains or artificial lakes.
The municipalities affected by the restrictions in Baix Camp are Riudecanyes and Duesaigües.
In Alt Empordà, the restrictions affect 22 municipalities: Agullana, L'Armentera, Capmany, Espolla, Garriguella, La Jonquera, 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.
Filling the Sink podcast
Heavy rain and occasional drought are common features of Mediterranean weather, but the picture is looking quite worrying in 2023, with water levels in reservoirs consistently dropping over the past months - those managed by the Catalan government are now at 25% capacity.
Catalan News published a podcast episode on the ongoing drought situation in September 2022. Have a listen below, or search 'Filling the Sink' wherever you get your podcasts.