Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia has declared a drought emergency after reservoirs dropped to 16% capacity – a historic low impacting 6 million residents, including Barcelona’s population. Starting Friday, daily water use for households and public services will be capped at 200 liters per person, though officials note the average resident currently uses just 116 liters daily. 💧
“We are entering a new climate reality,” warned Catalan regional president Pere Aragones, highlighting that droughts are likely to become more frequent and severe. The crisis reflects broader challenges as climate change disrupts weather patterns globally. 🌍
While Barcelona’s advanced desalination plants soften the immediate blow, farmers and tourism-dependent businesses brace for tighter measures. Could this be a wake-up call for sustainable water policies? Experts say proactive adaptation is key as ‘climate shocks’ become the norm.
