In parts of Spain, it has not rained for more than eight months (Picture: Reuters)
Spain is parched. Temperatures have long surpassed the 40ºC mark and parts of the country is on alert for excessive heat.
As the impact of climate change intensifies across southern Europe, the province of Castellon is enduring its worst drought on record.
As a result, a ban on the filling up of swimming pools has been introduced due to the severe drought.
The affected towns include Toras, El Toro and Barracas, where it has not rained for more than eight months in some areas.
Reservoir levels have dropped by a quarter, prompting curbs on water usage by residents, visitors, agriculture and industry.
The mayors of all three municipalities issued a joint statement on Friday, pleading with residents to ‘use water responsibly’.
In addition to a ban on filling up pools, people are being told not to wash vehicles and watering gardens.
Councils have also stopped watering parks and gardens and filling the municipal swimming pool.
Vicente Tejedo, the newly appointed Regional Secretary for Agriculture, told local media: ‘We are suffering from a more than evident problem of lack of rain.
‘We have been warning for months about the drought and all the consequences it is having.
‘Livestock need feed because there is no pasture, and also tanks of water because the ponds are dry.’
More than 1.4 million euros have been spent to bring water to the ponds for all the cattle.
What does it mean for tourists?
Officials have appealed for tourists in Spain to act responsibly in their usage until the water levels improve.
In addition to the water restrictions, which are set to last until Tuesday, there are also warnings about excessive heat.
Temperatures are poised to reach ‘dangerous’ levels of up to 44ºC, which are even more worrying for people who are not used to them.
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