The gardenersagronomists and landscape engineers they are not satisfied with the measurements of Special Drought Plan that the Government announced in view of the emergency phase, which is “probable” that it will be decreed this next week in the Ter-Llobregat System according to the president himself Pere Aragones.
As this newspaper already announced, the Parkland required maintaining the restrictions planned for the exceptional phase, which prevent watering the grass but allow watering plants and trees (with all types of water). However, in an emergency, the Climate Action Department will only allow trees and plants to be watered with groundwater or regenerated water, that is, water that does not compete with the tap water. This decision already represents a flexibility since initially the Government did not plan to authorize the irrigation of plants in an emergency.
The sector warns that many municipalities will have a difficult time finding regenerated or groundwater water
Professionals warn that the irrigation ban opens a spring and summer full of difficulties not only for them, but also for the citieswho will stay, they warn, without climate shelters.
Thus, they have warned that, first of all, many people may lose their jobs in the coming months. Another difficulty, they point out, will be finding groundwater and regenerated water, with which it will be possible to irrigate. “Many town councils It is not easy for them to resort to these resources. And let’s not talk about private companies, which will have a difficult time buying regenerated or underground water,” he says. David M. Gomez, director of the Gardening and Landscape Foundation. Barcelona, without going any further, is studying which parks it saves and which it sacrifices with restricted irrigation starting in February. It will be a big change for a city that uses tap water for 80% of irrigation and that does not have the necessary infrastructure to bring groundwater or regenerated water to the entire city.
Climate shelter
Gardeners have pointed out a third consequence of lack of watering: the risk of the temperature riseswith the dry green areas. “It is proven that the temperature can vary four degrees due to the presence or absence of trees, bushes and green infrastructure,” highlights Gómez. Trees absorb CO2 and spaces full of flora favor people’s physical and mental health, the foundation highlights. They think that if watering is stopped now, In summer some municipalities can become “boiling”.
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In total, of all the water consumed in cities, “irrigation represents 2.5%with the prohibition of watering the lawn,” explains Gómez. This data includes private green areas, which gardeners consider that they should continue watering since they are important for the preservation of urban biodiversity and the fight against climate change.
When the emergency comes into force, only irrigation with drinking water will be allowed. monumental or unique treesboth in emergency 1, in emergency 2, and in emergency 3.