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Why Spain is Slowly Dying
The northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia is currently grappling with its worst drought on record, as large parts of the region face severe water scarcity. As a result, authorities have declared a drought emergency, affecting approximately 80% of the population. This three-year-long drought, coupled with low snowfall during the winter, has created a critical situation that demands immediate action. While the rest of Spain maintains an average reservoir level of 46%, Catalonia’s water reservoirs have dropped below the threshold of 16%. The consequences of this water crisis are far-reaching, impacting agriculture, industry, and the daily lives of millions of people.
To combat the water crisis, the government has implemented Phase I of its drought response plan for the Ter Llobregat system, which encompasses 220 municipalities. These measures include strict restrictions on domestic water consumption, limiting it to 200 liters per person per day. Additionally, water consumption in agriculture has been reduced by 80%, while livestock farming, industry, and recreational facilities face reductions of 50% and 25%, respectively. In the agricultural sector, the scarcity of water has led to the suspension of water-intensive crops such as alfalfa and corn. Harvests of grain crops have also been severely affected, and fruit crops, both irrigated and rainfed, have suffered significant losses.
