Last year at this time, Barcelona, Spain took the unprecedented step of importing water by ship from neighboring nations at a cost of $35 million a month due to extreme water shortages.
From the Guardian, Barcelona forced to import emergency water:
The tanker Sichem Defender arrived at the port of Barcelona yesterday carrying something far more precious than its usual cargo of chemicals. Nearly 23m litres of drinking water – enough for 180,000 people for a day – was the first delivery in an unprecedented emergency plan to help this parched corner of Spain ahead of the holiday season. The tanker, which arrived in Barcelona from nearby Tarragona, will be followed by its sister ship Contester Defender tomorrow from Marseille.
At a cost of €22m (£17.5m), six shiploads are to arrive each month for three months, from Tarragona in southern Catalonia, Marseille and Almeria – one of the driest areas of southern Spain. Already Barcelona’s authorities have turned off civic fountains and beachside showers, brought in hosepipe bans, and banned the filling of swimming pools. Authorities have brought in hitherto unheard of fines of €30 (£23.50) for watering gardens or €3,000 for filling swimming pools over 300 square metres. Schoolchildren are being taught how to save water.
See also Drought Ignites Spain’s ‘Water War’.
Just wanted to say great job with the blog, today is my first visit here and I’ve enjoyed reading your posts so far
Juan
I live in Spain and it’s hard to think we are not sleepwalking into disaster. I live in an area with baking hot, dry weather and there are literally half a dozen golf courses within walking distance with sprinklers going off at all hours.