News, November '05

Hurricane Vince may be just in time to save cuts in domestic water supplies

What happened to the swimming pool? /EFE

18th October The hydrological year, ending 30th September, saw the lowest rainfall since records began but hurricane Vince has changed the scenario. Average rainfall this past week was 44.1 Litres per sqm (18 inches), which is 3 times th average for this time of year. But highest rainfall came on the coast itself, where the water rushes straight off into the sea. So, will it's effects last? This week saw a rise of 0.3% in water reserves. (c.f. More News for data from the 25th.)

Even with average rainfall through the coming months, caution will need to be maintained to build up reserves for next summer. Let us hope that Vince is the start of a better than average rainy season. Last winter was disastrous.

Water supplies in the Tagus valley, July 2005 (MMA)

In some regions, such as dry Murcia and the Costa Blanca, water levels remain very depressed. 60,000 jobs in agriculture are threatened in Murcia alone, while Andalucia, Murcia and Madrid have introduced bans on the use of water for gardens, pools and even agriculture. Catalonia's imminent ban may have been halted by Vince. For statistical information with weekly updates, Go More News.

Madrid's Water supply! (EFE)

The 1947 drought and several dry years at the start of the 1950s brought severe famine to much of Spain, in part relieved by the Marshall Plan. How Spain has changed in these 58 years! Few have yet had taps dry, although that may well change in the coming months and reservoirs have allowed Spain's top money earner, agriculture, to continue production. Again, in the coming weeks, agriculture will have the taps turned off: reservoir water will be piped only for domestic use in many areas.

Sources: El Mundo, TVE, etc..