Mugardos prohibits filling swimming pools and watering gardens during the drought alert

The Mugardos City Council prohibits filling swimming pools, watering gardens, and washing streets as long as the drought alert situation remains in the municipality. The measure was adopted through Mayoral Resolution no. 2026-1211, signed on November 10 by Mayor Juan Domingo de Deus Fonticoba, and published in the Official Gazette of the Province of A Coruña (BOP) no. 217, of November 12, 2026, under announcement number 2026/7388.

The agreement is part of the Drought Plan of the Galicia-Costa Hydrographic Demarcation, processed under file 2271/2026 and SIA code 2640855. The plan’s regulations were published in DOG no. 35 of February 20, 2023, via the Order of the Department of Infrastructure and Mobility of February 10, 2023, which publicized the text approved by Royal Decree 48/2023, of January 24.

According to the announcement itself, article 73.1 of the hydrological plan establishes that during drought episodes, measures must be adopted to guarantee the water supply and quality provided for in Law 9/2019, of December 11, on measures to guarantee supply during drought episodes and in sanitary risk situations.

Which water uses are prohibited

The Mugardos City Council is integrated into the UTE Ferrol, along with the systems of the Mera river, the Ortigueira estuary, and the Cedeira estuary, and is in a state of alert due to water scarcity following the decision of the regional administration in response to the sustained decline in water resources. This situation enables the adoption of specific measures under article 13 of Law 9/2019 and the powers conferred by article 21 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, on the Bases of the Local Regime.

The resolution approves the prohibition of supply for non-priority uses and purposes, including:

• Filling of swimming pools.
• Watering of public and private gardens.
• Watering of public and private green areas, except for essential needs.
• Washing of streets.
• Water sheets (decorative water features).
• Fountains for human consumption without automatic shut-off devices.
• Washing of vehicles with hoses, except for companies dedicated to that activity.
• Cooling and conditioning installations that do not have a recovery system in operation.

Reduction of pressure at night

The second of the uses limited by the resolution is the reduction of supply pressure between 22:00 and 7:00 hours, both in private homes and in companies within the municipal district.

The local government justifies the package stating that “it is necessary to reinforce the scope of neighborly collaboration and the recommendations that were already being taken into account,” such that the mandatory measures replace the previous recommendations directed at the population.

Sanctions and public dissemination

Failure to comply with the approved measures may be subject to sanction, in accordance with the municipal ordinance and Title VII of Law 9/2010, of November 4, on the Waters of Galicia, taking into account the specificities of the sanctioning regime during drought episodes under Article 31 of Law 9/2019.

The resolution further orders publication in the BOP, on the transparency portal, on the electronic headquarters notice board and, complementarily, on the municipal website, for general knowledge. The text is forwarded to the Plenary, the Local Government Board, and the Informative Commission for Works, Services, Environment, and ICTs at the first ordinary session to be held.

A council awaiting rain

The restrictions affect all residents and businesses in Mugardos, from hospitality establishments with swimming pools to vehicle cleaning companies, which may only maintain their activity if they are professionally dedicated to it. The validity has no end date: the set of measures will remain «as long as the drought alert situation persists», therefore the lifting of these measures will depend on the regional government’s decision regarding the water resources of the territorial unit to which the municipality belongs.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of A Coruña, no. 217, November 12, 2026, Local Administration, p. 1 (official reference: 2026/7388).