Fears of shortages as reservoirs start to empty 03/01/2007 00:00

3 January 2007

MADRID — Water reserves have started to fall already across the country, authorities said on Wednesday.

Now reservoirs are currently holding only 56 percent of their total capacity.

Water reserves have fallen for the second week in a row, said an environment ministry spokesman.

It comes after three months in which stocks rose from October onwards, refilling severely depleted reservoirs after last year's drought.

Though most reservoirs on Spain's Atlantic coast were well-stocked, those on the Mediterranean had what authorities called "precarious" levels.

The reserves in the River Segura and Jucar valleys in southeastern Spain were as low as 12 and 14 percent of their normal level.

This comes after two years of severe drought and gives the authorities cause for concern if there is another drought in 2007.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news