The metropolitan area of Barcelona is leading the lower domestic water consumption in Europe

The metropolitan area of Barcelona holds the lower domestic consumption of water from all over Europe. Thus, during the year 2009, were consumed 108,4 litres per user per day, figure that exceeded the 109.4 liters accounted for during the drought of 2008. Thus reflected in the annual report of the entity of the environment (EMA) of the metropolitan area of Barcelona submitted, at the end of July, by the President of the entity, Francesc Narváez. In view of the owner of this agency, this decrease of 1.4% was due to the civic awareness, mainly, but also to the influence of the crisis.

Over the past 10 years, household spending of this resource per capita, in the metropolitan area, fell by 24 litres, despite the disparities between the towns of the EMA. For example, while in Cornellà de Llobregat or L'Hospitalet average was 95,16 and 95,98 liters, respectively, in other municipalities such as Sant Cugat del Vallès (160,83 litres), Begues (152,04) or Castelldefels (135,04) expenditure increased significantly. The reason for this, according to Narvaez, lies in the residential types, since in Sant Cugat, Begues or Castelldefels proliferate areas of villas and houses with garden, most of them with swimming pool, which increases the consumption of water. In Barcelona City, average expenditure was 108,51 litres, 2.57% less than in the previous year (111,37 litres), in contrast with municipal consumption which rose by 12%.