Drought restrictions expected to be lifted by end of the week

The Catalan government ratified the lifting of drought restrictions in the area dependent on the Ter-Llobregat water basin this Tuesday.

The area of the Ter-Llobregat basin covers where the vast majority of Catalans live, more than six million people in total. 

This region is now moving to a pre-alert after the reservoirs have exceeded 64% of their capacity, more than double what they were a month ago.

The end of the restrictions will be in force by the end of this week, once the measure is published in the executive's official gazette. 

The change announced will allow the lifting of restrictions on water usage for agricultural irrigation, environmental flows, and urban uses. 

Despite the improving picture brought about by increased rain in recent months, desalination plants will continue operating at 90% capacity, and investments to combat the drought will be maintained. 

The Baix Ter water system will return to its 'normal' phase, and that the Fluvià-Muga system will also take a step towards de-escalation, moving from a state of 'exceptionality' to 'alert'.

With the decision concerning the Ter-Llobregat, Baix Ter, and the Muga-Fluvià area, nine regions of Catalonia will be in a state of normality, five in pre-alert, and four in alert. In other words, fourteen of the eighteen areas in the area of Catalonia covered by the internal basins will have no restrictions on water usage. 

"No steps backward" 

The director of the Catalan Water Agency (ACA), Josep Lluís Armenter, welcomed the end of drought-related water restrictions when the decision was first announced last weekend, and said that current water reserves guarantee there will be "no steps backward" for at least the next "five to six months." 

In an interview with 'El Suplement' on Catalunya Ràdio, Armenter explained that they expect to "collect a little more water" during the remaining months of spring, particularly in May. 

Armenter said that lifting the restrictions in the Ter-Llobregat system is "very welcome news," allowing activities such as refilling swimming pools and restarting the Montjuïc fountains in Barcelona. 

However, he urged caution and mentioned that desalination plants would continue to operate at nearly full capacity.  

"We want to be cautious. We have reserves at 64% in the internal basins, and aquifers are recovering, but we are still not in a fully normal situation," he said.