The Catalonia region in northeastern Spain declared a state of emergency due to drought on Thursday in Barcelona and its surroundings. This means the area will now face stricter water restrictions after three years of low rainfall.
The President of the Catalonia government, Pere Aragonès, announced the measure after water levels in the region’s Mediterranean-facing reservoirs fell below 16% of their capacity, a threshold set by authorities for implementing a new series of water conservation measures affecting six million people.
The drought in Spain is a critical issue, particularly affecting the mid-southern and eastern regions, where around 10 million people are currently facing water restrictions. In Catalonia, a severe drought has persisted for over three years, marking the most intense drought the region has faced, with reservoir levels dropping to critical lows of around 18% capacity. This situation has impacted over 50% of Catalan territory, affecting water supply and the local ecosystem.
In Andalusia, Spain’s most populated region, the situation is similarly dire with the lowest rainfall recorded since the 1960s. A recent agreement, the Pacto de Doñana, has been reached to regulate water use for irrigation in the Doñana National and Natural Park area, amidst debates over water management and the expansion of irrigated areas despite the drought. The park, a crucial natural reserve, has been at the center of controversy due to prolonged drought and excessive aquifer exploitation, further exacerbated by illegal farming practices.
Spain has also registered the driest start to a year in the first four months of 2023 since records began in the 1960s. Catalonia and Andalusia are the most affected, with several heatwaves across Spain and Europe worsening the drought conditions. This has led to the imposition of new water usage restrictions in certain areas, including a reduction in daily water consumption per resident and restrictions on agricultural, industrial, and recreational water use.
The drought and its implications highlight the complex challenges Spain faces, including the need for sustainable water management and the impacts of climate change on water resources. The situation calls for significant adjustments in water usage policies and practices to mitigate the effects of the drought and safeguard water supplies for the future.
