4 Mar, 2024 @ 10:42
1 min read

Tourists face water restrictions in Spain’s Andalucia this year due to ongoing drought – these are some of the measures

NEW measures are to be put in place for tourists as Andalucia faces ongoing drought issues. 

Beach holidays could look drier for sun seeking Brits this summer. Photo: Cordon Press/Martijn Vonk Unsplash

READ MORE: Drought latest in Spain: Malaga reservoir levels remain critical with NO rain forecast for the next week

Despite being one of Spain’s main industries, tourism is not excluded from restrictions set to take hold this summer. 

While ordinary citizens use around 125 litres per day, tourists consume over 350 litres, putting an increased strain on Andalucia’s water supply. 

This takes into account the overall water usage of their accommodation, including watering decorative green spaces. 

The Junta announced that tourists will be subject to the same measures as ordinary citizens to control the use of water. 

This could see the introduction of water metres in hotel bathrooms. 

Although it has rained over the weekend, Andalucia’s reservoirs still stand at only 25% capacity and increased measures are expected as the summer draws in. 

Andalucia is not yet in a state of emergency and Junta sustainability lead, Fernandez-Pacheco has insisted they will do ‘all they can’ to avoid this. 

READ MORE: Desalination plants in Spain: How do they work and are there plans to build more amid severe droughts?

This includes frequently talking with hotel bosses to manage water usage and urging tourists to be ‘conscious’ of the drought.

It comes after the Junta’s tourism lead, Arturo Bernal, stated the summer would be ‘normal’ for tourists as there would not be a ‘lack of drinking water’. 

He also mentioned a ‘plan B’ for water supply, saying there may be wells which collect undrinkable water and convert it so that it is suitable for human consumption. 

Water restrictions are already in place in many areas across the Costa del Sol and are expected to increase as the weather gets hotter. 

These will likely include lowered water pressure and cuts throughout the night. 

Catalonia has already brought in emergency measures including a ban on refilling swimming pools and watering private gardens. 

Meanwhile, Tenerife is expected to declare a drought emergency following one of the ‘driest winters in recent history’.

READ MORE: Drought decree latest: Marbella desalination plant set to quadruple its capacity as recent rains partially replenish Andalucia’s reservoir levels

Yzabelle Bostyn

Yzabelle Bostyn is an NCTJ trained journalist who started her journalistic career at the Olive Press in 2023.
Before moving to Spain, she studied for a BA in English Literature and Hispanic Studies at the University of Sheffield.
After graduating she moved to the university’s journalism department, one of the best in the UK.
Throughout the past few years, she has taken on many roles including social media marketing, copywriting and radio presenting.
She then took a year out to travel Latin America, scaling volcanoes in Guatemala and swimming with sharks in Belize.
Then, she came to the Olive Press last year where she has honed her travel writing skills and reported on many fantastic experiences such as the Al Andalus luxury train.
She has also undertaken many investigations, looking into complex issues like Spain’s rental crisis and rising cancer rates.
Always willing to help, she has exposed many frauds and scams, working alongside victims to achieve justice.
She is most proud of her work on Nolotil, a drug linked to the deaths of many Brits in Spain.
A campaign launched by Yzabelle has received considerable support and her coverage has been by the UK and Spanish media alike.
Her writing has featured on many UK news outlets from the Sun to the Mail Online, who contracted her to report for them in Tenerife on growing tourism issues.
Recently, she has appeared on Times Radio covering deadly flooding in Valencia.

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