Galicia finds itself in a highly unusual situation after experiencing one of the wettest winters in recent decades. Although rainfall was abundant just a few months ago, the current situation... persistent heat wave And the complete absence of rain has jeopardized the region's water reserves. The atmosphere is tense, and that's putting it mildly, as in inland areas like Ribas de Sil have even seen... highs approaching 40 degrees, which drastically accelerates the evaporation of surface water.
Faced with this situation, the city of Vigo didn't want to wait any longer and has taken the initiative by activating its own protocol to avoid running out of water prematurely. The mayor raised the alarm upon discovering that the The Eiras reservoir is at 86,7%This figure, while seemingly high, is significantly lower than in previous years at this time. This decision aims to stretch current reserves, which are estimated to be sufficient for about five months if... They are taking extra precautions at the reservoirs and not a single drop is wasted on uses that are not strictly necessary.
The Galician government monitors the Galicia-Costa basin
The regional government is watching the skies with some concern as it monitors the river levels. The president of the Xunta has acknowledged that officially declaring a state of emergency is not out of the question. pre-alert in areas under regional jurisdiction in the coming days. This measure would primarily affect the hydrographic demarcation of Galicia-Costawhere technical monitoring of the rivers has been intensified to prevent the situation from worsening. The official message is clear: action must be taken. rational and measured use of water both in homes and in neighborhood communities.
The Mesa da Seca (Drought Committee) is scheduled to meet to review the latest data from MeteoGalicia and decide whether to take the final step. Among the areas causing the most concern are the Lérez, Anllóns and Baiona basinswhich show signs of greater sensitivity to the lack of rainfall. Although the population is being asked to remain calm for now, the authorities stress that being cautious now is the only way to avoid more severe restrictions if the anticyclone decides to stay put about us for much longer.
Immediate restrictions and infrastructure control
The containment measures are already being felt in the daily lives of many Galicians, with prohibitions that are now a reality in several municipalities. Among the most common restrictions are the suspension of street washingThe closure of ornamental fountains without closed circuits and the closure of showers on the beaches. Furthermore, the focus has been placed on private activities, categorically prohibiting the filling of private swimming pools and washing vehicles outside of authorized centers, since the latter usually have water recycling systems.
Another major challenge in this crisis is the state of the pipes and supply networks. It is estimated that across the entire region, approximately 18 out of every 100 liters of water are lost due to... leaks and breakdowns in the networkA luxury that Galicia cannot afford at the moment. Therefore, municipalities have been urged to closely monitor their infrastructure. minimize any unnecessary lossesIn some localities, daily consumption per household has even been limited to specific amounts to ensure that the supply reaches everyone equitably.
The combination of sweltering heat and lack of rain has forced authorities to take preventative measures to safeguard the water supply for human consumption. While cities like Vigo are already implementing water cuts for ornamental and recreational uses, the rest of the region remains attentive to the Galician government's decisions. manage a resource that is scarceThe current priority is focused on protecting the most vulnerable groups from high temperatures and promoting a culture of water conservation that will allow us to cope with this episode of meteorological drought without having to reach real emergency situations in the coming months.
