The rains experienced in Catalonia in recent days because of the DANA have made us all look at the sky with fear after a couple of years in which the rains were welcomed with more joy than anything else because of the state of drought in which we have settled.
The rainfall, severe in the south of Catalonia (even causing some flooding in the Ebro Delta) and somewhat less in the central area and in the north, have helped the reservoirs and, obviously, have had a significant impact on water reserves in the region.
However, despite the feeling of having lived under a bucket of water for a few days, the Catalan reservoirs are still not in an acceptable situation and Catalonia is still far from being able to decree the end of the drought.
State of the drought in Catalonia: this is how the reservoirs that supply Barcelona are after the DANA
General improvement in the reservoirs
As we said, the DANA has fed the reservoirs of Catalonia, making them rise from 27.6% to 32% of their total capacity, which represents an increase of five percentage points since October 24.
The Ter-Llobregat system, which supplies nearly 6 million people in Barcelona and Girona, has been one of the main beneficiaries of these rains. Its reserves have increased by 14%, now standing at 33.8%, a figure considerably higher than the 19.82% recorded a year ago.
It is not the only one. The reservoir of La Baells (Berguedà) has increased its reserves by almost 18 hm³, exceeding 56% of its capacity; that of Sau (Osona) has gained an additional 16 hm³ and Llosa del Cavall (Solsonès) has increased by 7 hm³, reaching 33% of its capacity.
Tarragona, the most affected province
The impact of the rains has been especially positive in the reservoirs of inland Tarragona, which were in a critical situation due to the drought.
In the south, the Siurana reservoir has gone from containing just 0.08 hm³ (0.60% of its capacity) to 0.72 hm³ (about 6%); the Riudecanyes reservoir has evolved from 0.09 hm³ (1.6%) to 0.76 hm³ (14.36%) and the Guiamets reservoir has gone from being practically dry to accumulating 1 hm³, reaching 10% of its capacity.
Will there be new water consumption restrictions?
Thus, although the rains do not allow us to get out of the drought, it can be said that the reservoirs have recovered the pre-seasonal levels, prior to the decrease in summer reserves due to the scarcity of rainfall and the increase in seasonal consumption.