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Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region declared a drought emergency today for Barcelona and the surrounding area, which will now face tighter water restrictions following three years without significant rain.
The Independent Mirror reported that the head of the regional government of Catalonia, Pere Aragones, announced the step after reservoirs in the Mediterranean region fell below 16 percent of their capacity.
That level is the benchmark set by the authorities for the application of a new round of water-saving measures that will affect some six million people.
The emergency aims to lower the daily amount of water permitted for residential and municipal purposes from 210 to 200 litres (55 to 52 gallons) per person.
