Hotels in Catalonia resort to drastic measures due to water shortage
by Marketing
Drought and aridity have plagued the region for three years, while reservoirs are slowly but surely drying up and drinking water is becoming a rare commodity. Barcelona, one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations, is particularly affected by the ongoing drought. The Catalan government is calling for water conservation. The situation is not only affecting everyday life, but also tourism. Hotels are now resorting to a drastic measure.
Spain: Vacations in Catalonia also marked by water shortage
Posters in Barcelona call for water conservation. "Drought! Help save water", they say, for example. Or: "Save water! It no longer falls from the sky!"
The situation is serious. The Pantá de Sau reservoir, which once supplied Barcelona with drinking water, is now almost dry, as the German "tagesschau" reports. The dam wall, once proudly raised, now lies dry and reveals the remains of an old church and other buildings. Actually, only the church tower was supposed to rise above the water in the reservoir. Far from the water, the abandoned water sports club can be seen on the former shore. Gloomy symbols of the current crisis.
The Catalan government has long since declared a state of drought and is taking significant measures to reduce water consumption. Tourists are being made aware of the precarious situation everywhere - be it at the airport, in subway trains or in hotel rooms. Brochures are even distributed with tips on how to save water.
Hotels in Catalonia suffer from a lack of water and resort to measures
Many hotels now lack plugs in the bathtubs to control guests' water consumption. Other measures are also being taken, such as asking guests to brush their teeth with a cup of water or using the water-saving button on the toilet flush.
But it is not only the tourism sector that is suffering from the ongoing drought. Catalan agriculture is also having to put up with massive restrictions. Trees and flowers can no longer be watered with drinking water. Fountains have been turned off.
Hotels in Catalonia are facing a major challenge, especially in view of the upcoming vacation season. Some have already reacted and are investing in desalination plants so that they can continue to make their pools available. In Lloret de Mar, for example, hoteliers have purchased a desalination plant for 1.5 million euros to supply the pools.
Vacation in Catalonia: Guests must expect restrictions
Enric Dotras, the head of the hotel association, emphasizes the urgency of this measure: "It's our only chance to keep pools open while the drought emergency is in force." But not all hotels can offer this luxury. Some have already announced that they will keep their pools and wellness areas closed during the Easter vacation.
The Spanish weather service has no explanation as to why exactly it is so dry. However, the greater Barcelona area has been lacking winds that bring clouds and humidity for three years. The desalination plants in the area run continuously to produce drinking water from seawater.