Water

Since the beginning of July, the water collected in the reservoirs has been below the average of the last 20 years, a difference that has been increasing week after week.

The lack of rain and successive heat waves reduce the flow of rivers and affect agriculture, transportation and water supply.

The spokesman for the agricultural union, Xabier Iraola, has detailed that there are about 5,000 farms in Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa outside the public water supply network, which are increasingly suffering from water shortages due to summer droughts.

The Álava Water Consortium has introduced water restrictions in municipalities such as Salvatierra or Alegría-Dulantzi, while in Zuia water has begun to be transported in tankers to ensure supply.

From Monday to Friday, 250 cubic metres a day will be transported by the foral institution to help secure the supply of the municipality of Las Encartaciones.

Ajangiz, Arratzu, Bermeo, Busturia, Ea, Elantxobe, Gernika-Lumo, Forua, Gautegiz-Arteaga, Ibarrangelu, Kortezubi, Mendata, Mundaka, Murueta, Muxika, Sukarrieta, Ispaster, Berriatua, Etxebarria, Markina-Xemein and Ondarroa are the populations affected by water shortages.

After the situation has improved, the City Council has terminated the cuts, although it has asked the public to be responsible for water consumption in order to avoid further cuts.

The cut is in effect from 22:00 to 08:00, and the use of showers in municipal swimming pools is now prohibited. 

The situation is particularly alarming in the Zuberoa Aruta Uroitza, where the flow rate has dropped significantly: if in July it was four cubic metres per second, in August it was halved.

There is hardly any drinking water in the Gaza Strip because of the humanitarian blockade imposed by Isral, which the UN has stressed is a political decision.