The Xunta has decided to declare the entire Galicia-Costa Hydrographic Demarcation in a state of prolonged drought after analyzing the evolution of recent drought indicators and in the face of a sustained reduction in rainfall over time. This measure, provided for in the Special Drought Plan of 2022, does not in itself imply restrictions on water uses and consumption, which continue to depend on the scarcity situation of each system.
The Drought Technical Office, chaired by the director of Augas de Galicia, Roi Fernández, agreed to extend this scenario to the entire demarcation, which had already been decreed at the end of September in the Ulla-Tambre and Costa Norte systems. The decision is based on the analysis of meteorological data, river flows, and other drought indicators.
As the sole exception, the Grande River system, in Camariñas, is deactivating its pre-alert for scarcity due to the positive evolution of its indicators in recent weeks. The rest of the demarcation maintains normality regarding scarcity, with a reservoir occupancy for supply at 44.7%.
A total of 123 municipalities are partially or fully included in areas affected by temporary water scarcity: 32 are in alert or with equivalent measures, and another 91 are in pre-alert. In the alert scenario, limitations may be imposed on non-priority uses such as street cleaning or filling swimming pools. The 32 municipalities in alert belong to the UTEs of the Lérez River, Anllóns River, and Baiona.
The pre-alert scenario involves intensive monitoring of the weather situation and river and reservoir levels, as well as potential incidents. Furthermore, public awareness measures are foreseen for responsible water use, and municipalities are requested to report their daily consumption flow data.
