WATER WASTE: Spain loses the third highest amount of water in Europe

ACCORDING to a study, Spain is the third country that loses the highest amount of water in Europe.

A report by consultancy firm PwC found Spain loses the equivalent of 25 per cent of the water it consumes.

The problem is improving, however, with Spanish water consumption down by 7 per cent between 2000 and 2014, due to better public awareness and more efficient irrigation systems.  More water is also being reused, with 80 per cent of water now treated, meaning the recycling figures have gone from 6 per cent in 2002 to 12 per cent in 2014.

The report claimed Spain still loses significant amounts of water, however, especially compared to nearby countries, including Germany, which only wastes 7 per cent.  France loses 19 per cent of its water, while Portugal loses 18 per cent.

The study claims the 25 per cent wasted in Spain, is due to breakages and leaks, which account for 15 per cent, and administrative error and fraud at 10 per cent.

The greatest concern, according to the report is a lack of funding for infrastructure.  The PwC study claims Spain has not updated its water system for 10 years, and is missing €12,300 of investment into its services.