Water restrictions
 

Regarding Andalucía, I'm reading a lot of coulds, shoulds, wills and maybes about imposing water restrictions and possibly in September. Are there any in force now? I can't see anything specific to that though it is easy enough that I've missed it.
Thanks.

Re: Water restrictions
 

According to press reports there has been a limit of 200 litres per inhabitant per day in my area of La Axarquia in Málaga province in force for several months, but I have no idea how this is enforced (if it is even being enforced at all). I live in the largest town in that area and there are no notices or posters anywhere about it. It is practically double the amount we use anyway so in no way draconian. This report also says the supply to the Guadalhorce area (also Málaga province) would be cut by 5%.

La Junta mantiene las restricciones de agua en la Axarquía y el Guadalhorce (malagahoy.es)

Re: Water restrictions
 

You're right in that also where I am I've not seen any notices, signs or news about if there is something.

Re: Water restrictions
 

I have noticed in the last month that our water pressure has been reduced at the mains. It's still sufficient for getting a shower etc so long as no one turns on another tap in the house. To be honest I see pressure reduction as a sensible measure. What gets me in Spain is the common use of the pre set taps in toilets that to me seem to provide water way longer than is required to was ones hands. I am surprised they are so common as they must waste a lot of water.

Re: Water restrictions
 

The average consumption per inhabitant is generally around 120 litres, and obviously water meters give a quick and simple way of getting consumption figures. So a limit of 200 litres per head is not going to be noticed by the vast majority of the population. It will only affect anyone abnormally using water, such as filling swimming pools, and those people are the ones that such legislation targets.

Re: Water restrictions
 

I lowered my average consumption to 90lts a day by using common sense measures and lowering my water pressure at the meter.

The smart meter is very good for providing all the stats.

Re: Water restrictions
 

For purely domestic uses (no pool filling or garden watering etc.) even 90lt. per person is still quite a significant amount or water never mind 120lt.

We don't have a pool or a garden to water nor do I believe we to do anything out of the ordinary waterwise yet our average daily consumption is around 60lt. each.

I would estimate up to a quarter of that is used (wasted!) in running the hot taps until the hot water actually comes through and a further quarter flushing the toilet.

Re: Water restrictions
 

https://www.wearewater.org/en/water-...ry-land_349631

Sun, sea and sand” holidays… with a lot of water

Along with agriculture, the tourism industry generates more than 50 million visitors in Spain, mainly in the summer season, when rainfall is lowest and is another major factor of water stress: while the average Spaniard consumes 127 liters per day, consumption per tourist ranges between 450 and 800 liters

Re: Water restrictions
 

How on earth does a tourist consume up to 800 litres per day?
How do they work that out? What are they including?

Re: Water restrictions
 

An article from last year which has the same figures:

Día Mundial contra la Sequía: el turismo se bebe el agua de España

Translated:

Re: Water restrictions
 

Apparently this:These figures are calculated based on the hotel and restaurant expenditure (kitchen, laundry, toilets, swimming pools, cooling and irrigation), as well as activities such as golf, saunas, theme parks and municipal spending in hygiene services.

This consumption tends to increase and may reach 2000 litres per day in areas located in the tropical belt, and in hotel terms it can reach 3423 litres per day and room, according to data of the UNWTO.
https://www.wearewater.org/en/touris...emplary_282641

Re: Water restrictions
 

I take the figures as read as I'm sure they have better statisticians than me.

Re: Water restrictions
 

I guess it depends on the criteria you're using to define 'average'.

As the saying goes "there are lies, damn lies, and statistics"!

Re: Water restrictions
 

If, according to the Dia Mundial article, the Balearic Islands use 133 million cubic metres of water a year but tourism uses 33.2 million, which is, they state, the same as used by irrigation then the residents use 133 minus (2 x 33.2) = 66.6 million cubic metres of water a year for the rest of what they do.
If the total residents is 1.2 million then,
66.6 / 1.2 = 55.5 cubic metres per person per year.
So 55.5 x 1000 = 55,500 litres per year or 152 litres per day.

If tourism uses 33.2 million cubic metres per year and there are 88 million overnight stays per year then each tourist uses 33.2/88 = 377 litres per night adjusting the zeros. As it's not counted by nights but days then the number of tourism days is more as you'd add one on I think, like if the average stay is 6 nights, then that's be 7 days. The end figure of consumption per day would be a bit less, somewhere around 330 litres per day.
So still not near the 800, 2000 or 3423 litre scaremongering figures. The 450 figure could be more like it but you'd really have a hard time finding the niche user of 3423 litres a day.