An Alarming Reality of Water Consumption
Currently, a quarter of the municipalities under the auspices of the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) have exceeded the established water consumption limits, despite drought warnings. Recent statistics from the ACA indicate that 147 of the 568 populations analyzed (25.8%) exceed the permitted liters per person per day.
The Municipalities with the Most Consumption: A Detailed Analysis
Among the most affected regions are Osona, Ripollès and Lluçanès, with municipalities such as Sant Agustí del Lluçanès reaching an alarming consumption of 670 liters per person per day. Other towns such as Tavertet (587 liters) and Sant Boi del Lluçanès (468 liters) are also in a similar situation. However, it is important to consider that these averages do not distinguish between domestic use and industrial or livestock activity.
The Impact of the Severe Drought
Despite recent rains, drought remains a serious concern. For example, the Sau reservoir is currently at 7.5% of its capacity, in contrast to 39% for Susqueda, which is part of the same supply system.
Trends in Water Consumption
In addition, it has been observed that almost half of the municipalities, 45%, have increased their water consumption per person compared to December 2023. The expected vote in Parliament on the decree law that eliminates penalties for municipalities that exceed consumption limits could influence water management practices in the region.
Evolution of Consumption Limits
The water consumption thresholds are determined based on the drought status of each municipality, which has varied during 2024. In a state of alert, the total amount of water allowed is 250 liters per inhabitant per day, which decreases to 230 in a state of exception and to 200 in an emergency phase.
Water Consumption in Small Municipalities
The most recent data from the ACA reveals that towns with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants are the ones with the highest consumption. Sant Feliu de Buixalleu, for example, records 772 liters per person per day, followed by Pedret i Marzà with 697 liters and Sant Agustí de Lluçanès with 670 liters.
Comparison with Larger Municipalities
In contrast, among municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants, Roda de Berà stands out with a consumption of 521 liters, while cities such as Girona and Granollers only slightly exceed 180 liters. This trend indicates that smaller populations tend to consume more water per person.
The Future of the Sanctioning Regime
The decree law approved by the Government on December 23, which abolished penalties for exceeding water consumption limits, has put a hundred sanctioning cases that had been pending on hold. The decision taken by Parliament in its upcoming vote will determine whether the sanctioning regime will be restored or whether the current situation will be maintained.
Regardless of the outcome, closed cases cannot be reopened, but if the decree is rejected, new cases may be sanctioned again, which directly affects water management in the municipalities of Catalonia.