1. COMENIUS Institut Arnau Cadell, Sant Cugat (Barcelona)

2. COMENIUS WATER PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

3. COMENIUS Water in catalonia Internal Watersheds Intercommunity Watersheds Population6.730.000 inhabitants555.000 inhabitants Maximum available water2.500 hm 3 /year10.000 hm 3 /year Maximum capacity of the dams694,45 hm 3 3.803,3 hm 3 We live under climatic conditions that don´t allow us to have a surplus of water supplies, due to the irregularities of the Mediterranean climate. Furthermore, there is a large imbalance between the distribution of the population in the territory and the availability of the unevenly distributed water resources.

4. COMENIUS Problems LACK OF INFORMATION and UNAWARENESS The little information that reaches most of the population. Water is not an endless resource. CONTAMINATION Flix factory (Tarragona). It was recently discovered a significant accumulation of radioactive and chemical waste on the Ebro river because of the company activity Ercros. POPULATION GROWTH In the last 8 years, the population increased by 1 million. Increase of water demands, decrease of overall resources. CLIMATE The Mediterrean climate is very irregular with intense droughts. AGRICULTURE The region has abundant agricultural fields and in the summer, agriculture suffers major periods of shortage. Flix: A poisoned legacy

5. COMENIUS Solutions PROMOTE A CULTURE OF “CARING, SPARING AND SHARING” Inform people (schools, media, associations), and let them know how to help. Also organize water support campaigns, like “the saving water net”. INVESTMENT Repair, modernization and monitoring of the existent facilities. As well as support scientific research to find new alternatives. SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT Adopt policies and measures in order to save water, prevent contamination, and make a better use of the available resources, while searching for new ones. REUSE Stricter laws for new buildings, forcing them to include facilities in order to avail water and reuse it. DESALINATION Converting saltwater into fresh water suitable for consumption. Catalonia (Llobregat) has one of the biggest plants in Europe. But it’s very expensive. AGRICULTURE and SUSTAINABILITY More efficient irrigation systems: Drip irrigation, wells, irrigation canals or the reuse of rainwater.

6. COMENIUS Water Saving campaigns in Catalonia

7. COMENIUS Sant Cugat Barcelona PROMOTE A CULTURE OF CARING, SPARING &SHARING

8. COMENIUS Citizen Participation AT HOME:. Economic taps;. Don´t pour oils or chemicals down the drain;. Shower instead of bathing;. Don’t open taps with maximum flow. IN THE GARDEN. Reuse the water from the rain, by installing a water butt to collect it;. Use a watering can instead of a hose.

9. COMENIUS Taking Action We all have an ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. Thus, the future of the planet is in our hands. There are many ways to PARTICIPATE. We can all take part as a GROUP (namely institutions, associations, communities) and INDIVIDUALLY, starting right now from our own home. Banyoles Lake, Girona.