Published TUESDAY January 23, 2024: 'THIRSTY Europe' by ZUMA Partner agency Contacto photo-journalist's Carlos Castro, Cesar Ortiz, Fernando Sanchez, Fabian Simon, Lorena Sopana, Lex Zea, David Zorrakino: Europe is facing its worst drought in at least 500 years, with two-thirds of the continent in a state of alert or warning, reducing inland shipping, electricity production and the yields of certain crops. Catalonia is suffering with reservoirs that provide water for about 6 million people, including Spain's second-biggest city Barcelona, filled to just 18 percent of their capacity an extreme and unprecedented low, even though nearly 45% of drinking water consumption depends on them. By comparison, Spain's reservoirs as a whole are at 43 percent of their capacity. Spanish authorities and experts point to the impact of climate change in the increasingly hot and dry weather. Tighter water restrictions went into effect and Barcelona may need to have fresh water shipped in by boat in the coming months to ensure drinking water supplies for its 5.5 million inhabitants. Welcome to 'THIRSTY Europe'
© zReportage.com Issue #924 Story of the Week: Published TUESDAY January 23, 2024: 'THIRSTY Europe' by ZUMA Partner agency Contacto photo-journalist's Carlos Castro, Cesar Ortiz, Fernando Sanchez, Fabian Simon, Lorena Sopana, Lex Zea, David Zorrakino: Europe is facing its worst drought in at least 500 years, with two-thirds of the continent in a state of alert or warning, reducing inland shipping, electricity production and the yields of certain crops. Catalonia is suffering with reservoirs that provide water for about 6 million people, including Spain's second-biggest city Barcelona, filled to just 18 percent of their capacity an extreme and unprecedented low, even though nearly 45% of drinking water consumption depends on them. By comparison, Spain's reservoirs as a whole are at 43 percent of their capacity. Spanish authorities and experts point to the impact of climate change in the increasingly hot and dry weather. Tighter water restrictions went into effect and Barcelona may need to have fresh water shipped in by boat in the coming months to ensure drinking water supplies for its 5.5 million inhabitants. Welcome to 'THIRSTY Europe'

A sign prohibiting bathing in the dry Santa Fe reservoir, in the Montseny Nature Preserve during the ongoing drought. The reservoir was built in 1920 to generate electricity for a luxury hotel, built by Ramon de Montaner, a publisher from Barcelona.
© Alberto Paredes/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Church of Sant Roma de Sau in the Sau reservoir, revealed from the waters due to the ongoing drought. The low levels of the reservoirs, at 18% of their capacity, and the low possibility of rain in the coming weeks, have led the Catalonia Government to approve a new package of measures to control water consumption.
© Lorena Sopena/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Dry dusty and cracked lake bed dirt revealed after water dried up in the Belesar reservoir on the Minho River, during the ongoing drought in Galicia. Europe is facing its worst drought in at least 500 years, with two-thirds of the continent in a state of alert or warning, reducing inland shipping, electricity production and the yields of certain crops.
© Carlos Castro/Contacto via ZUMA Press

A fisherman casts his line on the waters and try's his luck in the near empty Belesar reservoir on the Minho River in Galicia amid the ongoing drought.
© Carlos Castro/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Bathers enjoy a freshwater shower using he footspa at the beach in La Malagueta, after the City Council cut the water from the showers in new measures to fight the ongoing drought.
© Lex Zea/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Above the dry cracked ground, lavender flowers bloom in Castilla La-Mancha. Known as 'El Jardin de la Alcarria' (The Garden of the Alcarria), the area was the Spanish pioneer in lavender cultivation 30 years ago. The harvesting of the fields begins in summer when the flower has already taken on a grayish color.
© Rafael Martin/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Dust rises from a field as a farmer uses a tractor to prepare the land qt the Belchite field in Zaragoza. The Union of Farmers and Ranchers of Aragon (UAGA) have called on the Spanish authorities to implement a comprehensive plan against the ongoing drought.
© Fabian Simon/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Farmer FELIX VAL discusses the affects of the ongoing drought situation for him on his tractor in the Belchite field in Zaragoza. The Union of Small Farmers (UPA) and the Union of Farmers and Ranchers of Aragon (UAGA) have called on the authorities to implement a comprehensive plan for water usage to allow them to continue to work.
© Fabian Simon/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Shepherd JOSE MANUEL GARCIA brings his sheep to drink water at Belchite field in Zaragoza. The Union of Farmers and Ranchers of Aragon (UAGA) have called on the authorities to implement a comprehensive plan against the unprecedented drought.
© Fabian Simon/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Farmers park tractors in front of the Ministry of Agriculture during a 'tractorada' demonstration called by the Union of Farmers and Ranchers in Madrid in order to claim more aid and speed in fighting the drought and 'saving' the Spanish countryside due to the effects of drought, as well as the increase in production costs. An estimated 150 farmers with tractors from the agricultural regions Valencia and Catalonia participated.
© Fernando Sanchez/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Farmer MARIO PICAZO cuts a melon after being picked from a field in Alcazar de San Juan. The scarce supply of watermelons has caused the price of these typical summer fruits to rise, reaching 2.50 euros per kilo when at the same time they were sold at 1.20 euros per kilo. This shortage is due to the high temperatures and intermittent rainfall, which caused many fruits to spoil.
© Rey Sotolongo/Contacto via ZUMA Press

A worker picks an olive from a branch of an olive tree during the start of the oil season in the Quiroga region. Oil production begins at the Ouro de Quiroga oil mill, despite its low production due to the drought. The producers harvest mainly olive oil from the native Mansa and Brava varieties.
© Carlos Castro/Contacto via ZUMA Press

First cold pressed oil emerges after the first filtering during the beginning of the oil season in the Quiroga region. Spain is the world's biggest olive oil producer, covering 70% of European Union consumption and 45% of that of the entire world. The lack of rain that olive-producing areas around Spain have been seeing has an enormous impact on both the amount of oil being produced and its price.
© Carlos Castro/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Celebration of a mass to pray for an end to the drought, organized by the village parish in Girona. The Darnius-Boadella reservoir is only at 20% of its capacity. The parish organized the mass next to the reservoir to reflect 'on the drought and the value of water'.
© Lorena Sopena/Contacto via ZUMA Press

The faithful gather for a mass to pray for an end to the drought, organized by the village parish in Girona. The parish organized the mass next to the reservoir to reflect 'on the drought and the value of water'.
© Lorena Sopena/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Worshipers hold hands and pray during a mass to pray for an end to the drought, organized by the village parish in Darnius, Girona. The Darnius-Boadella reservoir is only at 20% of its capacity. The parish of Darnius organized mass next to the reservoir to reflect ''on the drought and the value of water.'
© Lorena Sopena/Contacto via ZUMA Press

The water microfiltration area of the Baix Llobregat treatment plant as the city of Barcelona explains its technical drought action plan. Aigues de Barcelona sees it as ''essential'' to replicate the reclaimed water model it already has in the Llobregat River with the construction of a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) and a water reclamation station (WRS). The coordinator of the Drought Plan explained that the objective is to regenerate '100% of the water consumed'.
© David Zorrakino/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Fish during their transfer and rescue in the Pas river, one of those affected by the drought. Cantabria will temporarily suspend fishing in four sections of the rivers Ason, Pas, Nansa and Deva to the flow situation with an average drop of 47% compared to the historical water line of recent years.
© Cesar Ortiz/Contacto via ZUMA Press

Wearing waders Nature workers during the transfer and rescue of fish in the Pas river, one of those affected by the drought Cantabria.
© Cesar Ortiz/Contacto via ZUMA Press

A swimmer exercises at an indoor public pool in Barcelona. The gyms and sports clubs in Catalonia that have indoor and outdoor pools will be able to fill them in a state of emergency due to drought, as long as they compensate by saving water in the rest of the facilities.
© David Zorrakino/Contacto via ZUMA Press

A city cleaning worker waters a street with a hose in Barcelona. The City Council has warned that the drought emergency phase, in which Catalonia may enter this January if abundant rainfall does not arrive in the coming weeks, could affect household supplies if the most advanced emergency phase is reached.
© David Zorrakino/Contacto via ZUMA Press