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The level of the water body is so low that water is starting to get mixed with mud making it unusable
The current winter’s drought has already started showing its impact on the eco- and hydro-systems of Southern Europe, stirring concern in its wake and hopes that rainier weather will eventually come. The latest victim of the season’s unusually arid weather is the Sau reservoir, near the town of Vic in Catalonia (Spain).
Due to the ongoing drought, Sau is only filled at 15% of its capacity. That’s so bad that basically whatever water there is in the lake is starting to get mixed with the mud at its bottom lowering its quality and making it unusable. What’s more, it threatens the survival of the fish present in the reservoirs since less water means less oxygen for them to breathe.
That’s why, the authorities have taken the unusual and unprecedented decision to completely dry up the reservoir by transferring the remaining liquid to the neighbouring reservoir of Susqueda, which is downstream. The two lakes are connected by the river Ter. And yes, that also means transferring the fish there as well in order to save it!
The Sau water body is a somewhat popular attraction in summer when the water levels subside as it reveals a medieval church (called Sant Romá and dating to the 11th century) in its centre. The church was part of a village which was flooded in the 1960s to create the reservoir. Last summer, the church was completely visible and now it’s visible again, but it shouldn’t be since it is only February.
The water from the reservoirs is used to supply the needs of the Girona country and the Barcelona metropolitan areas.
Susqueda itself is also not doing that great in terms of water availability, which is why the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) has decided to combine the two reservoirs into one and make out of two almost empty glasses at least one that is half-full, to use a clunky metaphor.
On prior occasions, such as in 2008 when another serious drought struck Catalonia, plans to remove water from Sau were also drafted but spring rain halted them as the lack of water eased.
What are the reasons for that and are there any possible solutions for that problem?
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