Spanish drought intensifies as water reserves at just 50%

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Amid a long-term drought and an exceptionally dry spring, Spain's water reserves are only half full, according to a report released on Tuesday by Spain's Environment Ministry.

While water levels have improved since September when they were just a third full after the scorching summer, spring water levels are 17 percentage points below the 10-year average.

Overall, national water levels are close to those recorded at the same time last year, although the situation has dramatically worsened in parts of the Mediterranean and southern Spain.

In parts of Catalonia, where water restrictions are already in place, reservoirs are just 26% full. Last year, they were 60% full. On average, they are 80% full at this time of year.

On Tuesday, head of the Catalan water agency warned that the situation will become an emergency by September "if it doesn't rain before June."

The already drought-stricken areas of Andalusia and Murcia have also seen significant year-on-year declines in water levels.

The worsening drought comes after the second-driest month of March on record. According to meteorological agency Aemet spokesperson Ruben Del Campo, April could go down as the driest in recent Spanish history.

Spain's massive agricultural sector has warned that the crushing drought could become the ruin for farmers and drive up food prices even further.

The head of an Andalusian livestock association said 500,000 goats face being sacrificed because there is hardly room to graze and animal feed prices have spiked.

Meanwhile, a political water war is being waged in the National Park of Donana, where the conservative regional government of Andalusia wants to legalize more water-intensive farms.

However, the EU and Spain's national government said doing so could spell disaster for the vital wetlands that are already suffering from extreme drought conditions.