Spain Declares Drought Emergency In Northeastern Catalonia Region

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BARCELONA, SPAIN (Worthy News) – Spanish authorities have declared a drought emergency in and around Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city and the capital of its autonomous northeastern Catalonia region.

The area will face tighter water restrictions following three years without significant rain.

More than six million Catalans will be affected across 200 towns and cities, including Barcelona, Worthy News learned.

Since Thursday, residents have been banned from washing their cars and filling up empty swimming pools under measures brought in to tackle the crisis.

Other initial emergency restrictions will include a sharp reduction in water use for crop farming and industry and the capping of water supplies per inhabitant daily.

The restrictions were announced after reservoirs fell to close to 16 percent of their capacity. “If it continues like this, the Catholic Churches here will no longer be able to baptize children,” warned a 56-year-old therapeutic yoga teacher, Michel Koopman, in an earlier interview with Worthy News.

BAD SITUATION

“I have been living here for more than 30 years, and it hasn’t been this bad ever,” the Dutchman said. He wasn’t surprised about stricter measures. “It seems strange that tourists are still allowed to swim in large pools at resorts while a water emergency is coming.”

Anna Casòliva Freixe, looking out of the window of her bakery, also recorded concerns. “It’s still not raining. It’s worrying if you don’t have enough water.”

Spain, a Southwestern European Union nation of more than 47 million people,
is familiar with dry conditions. Other country areas suffer droughts, including Andalusia in the south and the eastern region of Valencia.

However, Catalonia, which borders southern France, is less used to such conditions, forcing officials to consider bringing water by ship to Barcelona should it run dry. This measure was previously adopted in 2008.

There is an ongoing debate among experts whether the droughts are caused by human-caused climate change or whether they are part of natural phenomena seen in the past.

Whatever the reason, there seemed little relief for the millions facing water shortages in Spain.

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