The drought situation in Catalonia has reached critical levels, requiring urgent action to preserve water resources.
A state of drought emergency was declared in early February in Barcelona and its metropolitan area, and subsequently in Girona, after reservoir reserves fell below 16%.
This measure affected almost six million inhabitants, underlining the magnitude of the challenge.
In response to the current drought emergency in Catalonia, the Generalitat has launched an extraordinary aid program aimed at projects that promote water saving and reuse in tourist establishments.
This initiative not only responds to the current emergency, but also seeks to promote long-term sustainability in the tourism sector.
Registration Process and Project Confirmation
Last March, the pre-registration process was initiated through order EMT/39/2024.
Currently, the publication of the bases and the official call for projects is awaited.
The grants are aimed at financing the implementation of measures such as the installation of water recovery systems and other saving initiatives.
Requirements and documentation
Interested establishments must submit a technical report or a water audit if they have more than 30 places or if the projects exceed 50,000 euros.
This audit must include:
- Analysis and inventory of the current installation.
- Volume of water consumed in the last three years.
- Evidence to justify the values.
- Indicator calculations.
- Description of improvement measures.
- Forecast of annual savings and reduction of consumption after the actions.
In addition, the audit should be aligned with the macro objective 3 “Efficient use of water resources” of the EU Common Framework Level(s) or with the guidelines of UNE-EN ISO 14046 “Environmental Management – Water Footprint” or the methodology of the Water Footprint Network.
Program Recipients
This program is aimed at companies and professionals in the following sectors of tourist accommodation in Catalonia:
- Hotels, hotels, apartments, hostels and guesthouses.ç
- Campgrounds.
- Rural tourism: farmhouses and rural lodgings (farmhouse, farmhouse, shared village house and independent village house).
- Tourist apartments.
- Privately owned youth hostels.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for these grants, establishments must meet several requirements:
- Location: Establishments must be located in Catalonia.
- Legality and registration: Legal entities must be legally constituted and registered in the Census of Economic Activities.
Establishments must be registered in the Tourism Registry of Catalonia. - Operating conditions: Entrepreneurs must comply with all tax and social security obligations.
In addition, they must comply with language policy, intellectual property, and occupational risk prevention regulations. - Not exceeding the aid limit: Companies must not have received more than 300,000 euros in de minimis aid in the last three years.
- Water audit: For projects with a cost of 50,000 euros or more, or in establishments with more than 30 beds, the presentation of a water audit is mandatory.
Consulting and Water Audits
For those interested in carrying out a water audit, it is advisable to seek external consultants who can provide this service.
In Barcelona, presenting this audit together with an investment plan focused on efficient water management can result in obtaining subsidies from the Generalitat.
The extraordinary aid program of the Generalitat de Catalunya represents a significant step towards sustainability and efficient management of water resources in the tourism sector.
These efforts not only contribute to the mitigation of the drought crisis in Catalonia, but also promote more sustainable practices in the long term.
Companies in the tourism sector now have the opportunity to adopt innovative measures for water conservation, benefiting from subsidies and contributing to a more sustainable future.
Ineria Management offers specialized consulting services in water management.
We perform detailed audits that meet the requirements of the subsidy program of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Submitting an audit performed by Ineria together with an investment plan focused on efficient water management can result in obtaining subsidies.
