BARCELONA, Spain (AP) 鈥 Spain鈥檚 Catalonia region will ease restrictions on water use for a wide area including Barcelona after recent rainfall palliated a prolonged drought, regional authorities said Tuesday.
Catalonia declared a in February when its reservoirs fell under 16% capacity after nearly three years of below-average rainfall. But has boosted reserves to nearly 25%. Spain's reservoirs overall are at 66% full.
The loosened restrictions mean that some 6 million people will now see individual use limits increased from 200 to 230 liters per day (53 to 61 gallons). Catalonia鈥檚 water agency says the average resident uses 116 liters (30 gallons) per day at home.
Famers will only have to reduce their average uses by 40%, instead of 80%, while industrial users will only have to save 15% compared to 25%.
David Mascort, who heads Catalonia's environmental authority, said that plans were still intact to install a off Barcelona鈥檚 coast in October. He said that Catalonia鈥檚 reserves for the areas fed by the Ter and Llobregat rivers were now near the same level as the previous year.
鈥淲e are in the same situation as last year, but this time, we are better prepared. If in May 2023 some 65% of our water came from our reservoirs, now it is only 50%鈥 thanks to an expansion in Catalonia鈥檚 water reuse and , Mascort said.
However, Catalonia鈥檚 government spokeswoman, Patr铆cia Plaja, warned that 鈥渢he drought is not over.鈥
