Catalonia limits water use amid drought

Water usage restrictions took effect in Barcelona and much of the Catalonia region in northeastern Spain on Friday as a months-long drought has left reservoirs at 30%.

The measures affect 6.7 million people, 80% of the population in the Catalonia region, and include a variety of water usage reductions: 25% in the agricultural sector, 10% in the livestock sector and 5 % in the industrial sector. Watering of gardens is to be limited to twice a week, preferably in the evening and water should not be wasted for cleaning of cars and pavements or filling swimming pools.

For now, it will not be necessary to limit of the use of water inside homes for washing, cooking or drinking, but the Catalan government urged citizens to be more conscious. There's also a precision watering system that allows growers to water plant pots lined up inside greenhouses individually but on a large scale without wasting a drop of water.