Promotion of water conservation in the city in response to the drought

Sustainability and resilience

Water scarcity is a significant challenge in terms of sustainability and urban resilience, requiring conscious action and management across all sectors of the city, including the tourism industry.

Barcelona City Council has implemented water-saving measures after the Catalan Water Agency declared a state of emergency for drought in the metropolitan area in February 2024, following 38 consecutive months of low rainfall. These actions, in coordination with the Special plan for action in alert and drought situations (PES), aim to reduce water consumption in the city, particularly in the tourism sector, and raise awareness among both residents and visitors about the responsible use of water.

The measures include:

  • Awareness campaigns aimed at visitors, in collaboration with the Barcelona Tourism Consortium, the Hotel Guild and APARTUR, to encourage responsible and moderate water usage during their stay in Barcelona.
  • Information on the climate emergency situation, particularly the drought, in collaboration with the Government of Catalonia. This information will be displayed at entry points to the city, such as airports, ports and public transport stations. 
  • Promoting sustainable practices in tourist establishments, including reducing water consumption in tourist services, reusing greywater and recycling water in swimming pools.
  • Support for investments in water conservation in tourist establishments through financial grants. This includes the installation of efficient systems, such as automatic taps, water-saving showers and systems for monitoring daily water consumption. 
  • Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of water consumption to optimise management in tourist establishments.
     

These actions aim to minimise the impact of the drought and promote a sustainable tourism model, adapted to the challenges of the climate emergency.