Water Issues In Spain: Inland Spanish Towns Suffering From Water Supply During Drought Becoming An Increasing Concern

THERE are towns in inland Spain that often have to go for long periods without fresh water available from the its water supply.

Especially during during drought seasons, when some places have to live for long periods with fresh water brought in by tankers.

Fresh water and the supply of fresh water is often taken for granted in developed countries, but you only need to spend a few days in some of Spain’s inland towns to realise that the issue is closer to home than one may believe.

Water is often taken for granted and not given the value that it should. It is, without doubt, the most incredible substance we know. All life depends on it. We use it daily to cook, wash and clean.

A decrease in annual rainfall with higher evaporation leads to a decrease in run-off into rivers. It is believed that average river flow in some countries is likely to drop by 7–35% by 2050.

Droughts are likely to become more frequent and more severe, with increased fire risk affecting water yield and quality in fire-affected catchments.

Spanish households (although improving) are pretty average at conserving water. The only good news to that is that there is always room for improvement.

There are some places in Spain however where this precious substance isn’t taken for granted so readily, specifically in 17 towns and villages in the area around Antequera who traditionally have problems with water supply during drought.

As Euro Weekly News understands, the provincial authority of Malaga have announced that they will spend nearly five million euros on improving inland water supply in these areas.

There will be 34 separate initiatives that will focus on making more water fit to drink and improving existing infrastructure to stop water seeping away.

One of the issues faced in the area is a concentration of nitrates from local farming in water courses. The Diputación also says that, in some cases, half available drinking water is lost through leaks. The different projects will vary in size and scope according to the local need.

Over one billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to clean water. Millions of women spend hours everyday collecting water, 2.6 billion people lack access to sanitation, and 1.8 million children die each year from diarrhoea. Barriers to addressing water problems in developing nations include poverty, education, climate change, and poor governance.