Joan Torrent, armed with plastic containers, walks through the forest to find water for drinking. He collects 8 liters (2 gallons) from a natural spring and carries them back to his residence in Gualba, a charming village close to Barcelona. This town, like many others in Spain, is suffering from the impacts of an unprecedented drought.

Torrent finds it a small inconvenience to have to make multiple trips for water during the week, but this may become a more frequent occurrence as Spain and other Mediterranean countries adjust to the effects of climate change.

Gualba used to have many springs, but now there is only one remaining, according to Torrent, a 64-year-old retired individual. During one of his visits to the fountain connected to the spring, he expressed concern about the future. He believes that people are not fully aware of the consequences of the water shortage and are resistant to acknowledging it. In his opinion, there needs to be a greater consciousness about the scarce water resources.

On Thursday, authorities in Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain, announced a state of drought emergency. The reservoirs, which provide water for 6 million individuals, including those in Barcelona, are currently at a record low capacity of under 16%.

Starting Friday, a drought emergency will be in place, restricting the maximum daily water usage for residential and municipal purposes to 200 liters (53 gallons) per person. The water agency in Catalonia reports that the average individual consumes 116 liters (30 gallons) of water per day at home.

However, for several months now, Gualba and other small towns and villages scattered throughout the Catalan countryside have been facing a crisis. While the effects of the drought have not yet been felt by the population of Barcelona, aside from restrictions on filling private pools and washing cars, those living in small communities that rely on wells are struggling to obtain safe drinking water due to dry wells.

According to the legends of the locals, Gualba is derived from the phrase “white water” due to the streams originating from Montseny mountain that can be seen from the village. However, this affluent village, home to approximately 1,500 people, has been facing a water shortage since December. The water levels in the local reservoir have dropped significantly, rendering the water unfit for consumption and only suitable for washing clothes and dishes. As a result, the majority of residents have to travel to a neighboring town to purchase bottled water.

Jordi Esmaindia, deputy mayor of Gualba, stated that their community has always had an abundant supply of water. He also expressed surprise at the current situation.

Spain has experienced three consecutive years of below-average precipitation while also setting record high temperatures. The situation is anticipated to deteriorate due to the effects of climate change, which is projected to cause the Mediterranean region to warm at a faster rate compared to other areas.

The capacity of the reservoirs in northern Catalonia, which are supplied by the Ter and Llobregat rivers, has decreased to 15.8%, significantly lower than the 10-year average of 70%. In comparison, the Guadalete-Barbate river basin in southern Andalusia, which is also experiencing shortages and restrictions, has a lower capacity of 14.6%. The overall capacity of reservoirs in Spain is at 50%.

Source: wral.com