Alicante, August 24 (FFN) – Spain’s Costa Blanca is grappling with a severe drought that has significantly degraded the quality of water in several towns. Both locals and tourists are now forced to queue at distribution centers to receive free bottled water as tap water has become undrinkable due to high salt content, making it unsuitable for drinking or cooking.
The situation has been exacerbated by mass tourism and overdevelopment, which have driven up water consumption in this popular Mediterranean destination during the summer months. In the Marina Alta region, located north of Alicante, water consumption skyrocketed to 19.67 billion liters in July, a dramatic increase from just 2.3 billion liters in January.
Local governments have imposed strict measures, including bans on filling swimming pools, watering gardens, and washing cars, to combat the water shortage. The region has been battling drought for some time, with rainfall in some areas amounting to just 10% of the usual annual average. The drought has also inflicted over 65 million euros in losses on the agricultural sector.
Environmental activists warn that this crisis is a clear sign of a climate emergency that demands immediate action. The combination of climate change, overdevelopment, and increased tourism has pushed the region’s water resources to the brink, necessitating urgent and sustainable solutions.
