Water Woes: Northeast Spain Grapples with Drought Emergency as Reservoir Levels Plunge, Signaling a Dire Situation

Catalonia has officially declared a drought emergency as reservoirs supplying 6 million people, including Barcelona, reach historic lows, prompting the implementation of water usage restrictions. Small towns like Gualba have been grappling with water shortages since December, forcing residents to purchase bottled water from neighboring areas.

Joan Torrent, 64, fills plastic jugs at a natural spring in Gualba, about 31 miles northwest of Barcelona, Spain, on Jan 31, 2024. Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia has declared a drought emergency for the area of some 6 million people, including the city of Barcelona. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Spain has been facing below-average rainfall for three consecutive years, coupled with record temperatures, exacerbating water scarcity issues, particularly in rural regions. In response to the crisis, Joan Torrent and others in Gualba are resorting to filling plastic jugs from a natural spring in the woods, highlighting the challenges posed by the ongoing drought.

For Torrent, the regular walks to fetch water may become a more prevalent inconvenience as Spain and the Mediterranean region as a whole adapt to the impacts of climate change. Torrent reminisces about Gualba, which used to abound with springs, but now, the spring he visits may be the last one remaining in the village.

Expressing concern about the lack of awareness regarding the impending challenges, Torrent notes, "People don’t want to hear about there being a lack of water," underscoring the need for increased awareness and proactive measures in the face of the escalating drought crisis.

Authorities in the northeastern region of Catalonia, Spain, have declared a drought emergency as reservoirs supplying 6 million people, including Barcelona, have dropped to under 16% of their capacity, marking a historic low. The emergency measures, effective immediately, impose restrictions on daily water usage for residential and municipal purposes, limiting it to 53 gallons per person.

Catalonia's regional president, Pere Aragonès, emphasized the emergence of a new climate reality, anticipating more intense and frequent droughts. While Barcelona's larger population is yet to feel the direct impact beyond restrictions on filling private pools and washing cars, smaller towns and villages, including Gualba, have been grappling with water scarcity for months.

Gualba, known as "white water" in local lore, has been without drinking water since December when the local reservoir reached critically low levels. The situation has forced residents to drive to neighboring towns to purchase bottled water, highlighting the immediate challenges faced by communities dependent on now-depleted wells. The declaration of a drought emergency underscores the urgency of addressing water scarcity and adapting to changing climate conditions.

Jordi Esmaindia, deputy mayor of Gualba, expressed astonishment at the unprecedented water scarcity, stating, "We have always had abundant water; nobody imagined we would be like this." Spain has endured three years of below-average rainfall amid record-high temperatures, and the impact is expected to worsen due to climate change, which is projected to accelerate heating in the Mediterranean region.

Reservoirs supplied by the Ter and Llobregat rivers in northern Catalonia have dropped to 15.8% of their capacity, significantly below the 70% 10-year average. Barcelona, however, has managed to avert water shortages by investing in desalination and water purifying systems, now constituting 55% of all water use in Catalonia. Despite this, both Barcelona and Sevilla are contemplating shipping in drinking water.

To address the crisis, Catalan authorities are threatening fines for municipalities failing to comply with water restrictions and encouraging them to raise water bills for pipeline modernization. The countryside is disproportionately affected, with restrictions cutting water for herd animals by 50% and crop irrigation by 80%, dealing a significant blow to the rural economy. Leakage losses, ranging from 70-80%, are identified as unsustainable by water management experts.

Dante Maschio, spokesperson for the Catalan non-profit organization Aigua és vida (Water Is Life), highlights the disparity in media coverage, noting that while Barcelona's water shortage makes headlines, there are villages in the Pyrenees enduring water shortages for months. Maschio emphasizes the potential for increased inequality and tension between urban and rural areas if the drought is not effectively managed.

Numerous towns are resorting to water delivery by tanker trucks, incurring significant expenses. The Catalan government has allocated $4.3 million of a total $206 million dedicated to drought mitigation to support 213 municipalities in covering water transportation costs.

In towns like Espluga de Francolí, water supply interruptions are enforced daily from 8 p.m. until 10 a.m. to allow wells to recover overnight. Eva Martínez, the mayor of Vallirana, acknowledges the frustration citizens feel amid water problems and emphasizes the desperate situation exacerbated by the persistent lack of rain. Vallirana has been bringing in water by trucks for months, providing residents with opportunities to fill bottles and buckets in designated neighborhoods.