Joy… but not euphoria. This is the summary of what one can feel when looking at the state of the reservoirs and basins that supply water to Catalonia after the rains experienced in recent weeks. Reservoirs in critical condition at the end of March the photos,, have recovered some color and, although the situation is still not good, the panorama is somewhat more flattering than it was not so long ago.
what is the condition of the reservoirs?
Thanks to the last rains the reservoirs have exceeded 26% of their capacity and accumulate more than 178 hm³. These figures, which have not been seen since early August of last year, will rise further in the coming days. Although much of the water from the rains has already been collected in the reservoirs, there is still water from the thaws to be collected, which will benefit from the significant snowfall in the Pyrenees and also from the rains that the forecasts say are still to fall.
After bottoming out in March by reaching 14.41% of its capacity, currently, the Ter and Llobregat basins, which supply 6 million people, are close to 27% (they were at 18.14% of reserves before the rainy season) thanks, in part, to days like April 29, the rainiest day in Catalonia as a whole since November 23, 2021.
The most striking case is that of the Sau reservoir, at 2.2% of its capacity before the rains and now gradually recovering its usual appearance (although the church is still accessible on foot).
will we get out of the state of emergency?
Despite this increase, the Generalitat is still not considering the possibility of moving from the exceptional phase to the alert since a summer with forecasts of record temperatures is approaching, so it is expected that the basins again lower their water levels since, as recalled by the spokeswoman of the govern Patricia Plaja, the drought “is not over yet”.
As of today the reservoirs of the rivers Ter and Llobregat accumulate more than 165 cubic hectometers, the threshold from which, according to the Special Drought Plan allows to decree the exit of the exceptionality, the amber light of the traffic light (the phase prior to the alert).
And although a few weeks ago the Generalitat de Catalunya lifted the emergency phase due to drought in the Ter-Llobregat system and eased some restrictions, it does not seem that the next step will come in the short term. With the lifting of the emergency phase, the affected municipalities moved to the exceptional scenario, which implies more flexible restrictions, although some measures were maintained, such as the prohibition of watering lawns in public and private gardens with drinking water. By moving to alert status these restrictions would be further alleviated.