Heavy rains fail to boost low water reserves

22 August 2006

MADRID — Water reserves across the country are continuing to fall, despite recent heavy rains, authorities said on Tuesday.

The reserves currently stand at 42.7 percent of their capacity – the worst state over the past ten years.

Water reserves have stood at an average of 56.2 percent over the past ten years.

Heavy rains in many parts of the country last week have not helped to reduce the current situation.

The worst situation is in the valleys of Jucar and Segura in southeastern Spain, where levels are only 12.7 percent and 12.8 percent of their normal capacity.

The Tajo river reserves, which provide supplies for Madrid,  have dropped to 43 percent of their normal levels.

In other areas, like the reserves of Guadiana I, the River Guadalquivir, the Sur and the River Ebro, all reserves stand at below 50 percent.

The highest levels are in the north of the country and the Basque Country.

In total, reserves have gone down by 601 hectometres during the past week.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news