Red alert in northwestern Spain: Andalusia – here in the photo the Alhambra in Granada – announces drastic measures after the holiday season. © IMAGO/Dynamite Studio
Spain reports new heat records. The reservoirs are almost empty. Andalusia is now getting the population in the mood for tough water-saving measures – after the holiday season.
Seville – Last year, Spain had already experienced its hottest summer on record. It was already very dry in large parts of the country in 2022. Now the Spanish weather service Amet reports unusual heat on the Iberian Peninsula – 38.8 degrees in the Andalusian city of Córdoba. In addition, there is an extreme drought. In the south of the country, drinking water is already scarce. In Andalusia, the situation takes on a new dimension.
Heat and drought in Spain: First regions in Andalusia suffer from drinking water emergency
Rivers and reservoirs in the south of Spain are now almost dry. Andalusia suffers from the lack of water. In some places, the taps have already been turned off. "In Córdoba, due to the drying up of reservoirs, there are 24 municipalities that are supplied by tankers," says geographer Jesús Vargas in an interview with 20minutos.es. Vargas is the spokesperson for the Observatorio Ciudadano de la Séquía platform, which collects data on drought and water management in Spain.
"If it doesn't rain, the situation will be much worse," the expert said. Even if it rains in May and summer, there is hardly any effect. At very high temperatures, the water evaporates faster in the reservoirs as well as in the crops and plants. Agriculture in the region is already suffering from the drought. Concerns about the olive harvest are great.
However, Andalusia's Prime Minister Juanma Moreno is counting on the rain in the next few weeks, as costanachrichten.com reports. "Let's hope it rains so that we don't have to take painful measures," the head of government said in an interview with the TV channel Antena 3. However, if it continues to be so dry, restrictions may be necessary depending on the level of emergency, such as a water ban for private pools and gardens or even no longer irrigating public parks.
Water shortage in the holiday paradise of Spain? Water guarantee in Andalusia
Holidaymakers in tourist strongholds such as Málaga and in coastal regions in Andalusia probably don't have to worry. For the summer, water consumption is covered in the coastal zones, Moreno underlined at the end of April. There is a guarantee. In an emergency, water is imported. Spain is preparing for a record summer of 2023. The tourism industry is optimistic. Whether an emergency situation can actually be avoided remains to be seen. If it happens, the water in Andalusia is to be rationed after the summer season – in autumn.
Water shortage in Spain: expert criticizes the condition of pipes
The lack of precipitation, the so-called meteorological drought, is one thing. Whether water resources are sufficient to cover bottlenecks also depends on other factors. Dilapidated water pipes, for example, are a problem. According to water expert Jesús Vargas, 32 percent of the city's water still seeps away in cities because of the poor pipes. Droughts in recent years have already sensitized the inhabitants of Seville and Cádiz. Consumption has fallen to 100 litres per inhabitant per day.
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Worst drought in Catalonia since 1914
Catalonia imposed restrictions on water consumption at the end of February. Public areas and private gardens will no longer be allowed to be irrigated, agriculture will have to reduce its water consumption by 40 percent, industry by 15 percent, and the daily amount of water per inhabitant will be reduced from 250 to 230 liters. Water for private pools is therefore scarce.
Experts speak of the worst drought in Catalonia since records began in 1914. The plight is largely attributed by researchers to man-made climate change.
The drought attracted tourists last summer. Last summer, the Catalan authorities had to restrict access to the Sau reservoir north of Barcelona because the rush of people who wanted to see the otherwise flooded church of Sant Romá from the 11th century had become too large. On the other hand, a mysterious structure – "Spanish Stonehenge" – brought to light the drought in the Valdecañas reservoir, almost 200 kilometres southwest of Madrid. (ml)
