10 Aug, 2024 @ 20:46
1 min read

Swimming pools banned in parts of Spain: Drastic measures are taken in these areas amid drought and extreme temperatures

Drought crisis sees first closures of swimming pools and dismissals of lifeguards in Spain’s Malaga

PARTS of Spain have been forced to ban the filling up of swimming pools due to drought. 

It comes as the country is suffering one of its hottest weekends in history, with a majority of the country on alert for high temperatures. 

The affected towns include Toras, El Toro and Barracas, which are all situated in the province of Castellon, immediately north of Valencia on the north-eastern coast. 

Meanwhile, a string of other coastal areas popular with Brits have been placed on alert.

The mayors of all three municipalities issued a joint statement on Friday, pleading with residents to ‘use water responsibly’. 

They said the increase in population due to tourists during the summer meant the amount of available public water had ‘lowered considerably’. 

They said the measures are designed ‘to avoid problems with the supply of drinking water in the future’. 

The towns have also eliminated the watering of parks and gardens and the filling up of municipal swimming pools. 

They have also announced the closure of municipal fountains.

“Without everyone’s collaboration, it will be impossible to achieve a reduction in water consumption and thus avoid problems with the supply of drinking water,” they warned.

They said the water situation is ‘worrying’ in many parts of Valencia, including; Cenia-Maestrazgo, Mijares-Plana de Castellon, Palancia-Los Valles, Bajo Jucar, Serpis, Marina Alta, Marina Baja and Vinalopo-Alacanti.

Four areas are facing an emergency in terms of water supply, comprised of Cenia-Maestrazgo, Palancia-Los Valles, Marina Baja and Marina Alta, while another three are on alert; Mijares-Plana de Castellon, Serpis and Vinalopo-Alacanti.

Marina Alta includes many towns popular with British expats and tourists, including Denia, Javea and Calpe.

Laurence Dollimore

Laurence Dollimore is a Spanish-speaking, NCTJ-trained journalist with almost a decade’s worth of experience.
The London native has a BA in International Relations from the University of Leeds and and an MA in the same subject from Queen Mary University London.
He earned his gold star diploma in multimedia journalism at the prestigious News Associates in London in 2016, before immediately joining the Olive Press at their offices on the Costa del Sol.
After a five-year stint, Laurence returned to the UK to work as a senior reporter at the Mail Online, where he remained for two years before coming back to the Olive Press as Digital Editor in 2023.
He continues to work for the biggest newspapers in the UK, who hire him to investigate and report on stories in Spain.
These include the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Mail Online, Mail on Sunday and The Sun and Sun Online.
He has broken world exclusives on everything from the Madeleine McCann case to the anti-tourism movement in Tenerife.

GOT A STORY? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call +34 951 273 575 Twitter: @olivepress

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