Spain’s north-eastern region of Catalonia is experiencing its worst drought in living memory as the water level in the Sau reservoir has dropped to below 10% of its capacity.
The dwindling water levels at the reservoir, which has been supplying water to Barcelona and other towns in the area for the past 50 years, have forced teams in small boats to extract fish with nets to prevent them from dying and contaminating the water. Water is also being transferred downstream to another reservoir to prevent contamination.
Catalonia’s population of more than 5.5 million inhabitants has placed further demands on the water supply, as has agriculture, which accounts for 80% of all water use in Spain.
Increased heat in the atmosphere has contributed to the drought, with the world having warmed by 1.1C since the beginning of the industrial era. Although not all droughts are caused by climate change, higher temperatures take more moisture out of the earth and make dry spells worse.
The Mediterranean Sea is a particular cause for concern because it is a closed sea that creates its own atmospheric environment, with the countries around it – such as France, Italy, Greece and those in the Balkans – identified as high-risk areas. Agriculture in Spain has been hit by new water restrictions, with 15% cuts in industrial water usage and a 40% reduction in water for farming.
The drought is causing concerns that there will be shortages both in Spain and abroad, leading to a rise in prices.
Source: Aljazeera
