In recent weeks, he got into a dramatic situation. Europe because not only from very high temperatureseven in states that have not experienced such weather conditions such as Britanniabut also from the unprecedented droughtwhich is considered the worst in the last 500 years.

Card issued European Drought Observatory in fact, this red and orange sea, covering 47% of the area of ​​the EU, is on ‘warning’ and 17% on ‘drought warning’. A state of emergency has already been declared in the southeast of England due to a prolonged drought and measures have been taken to reduce the waste of water resources.

However, it remains unknown to what extent climate change is causing the current crisis. Undoubtedly, the intense summer heat played an important role in the evaporation of water resources, as well as in changing weather patterns, which made the drought more intense. Specialist scientists actually predict that in Mediterranean Sea and also in Western Europe the risk of drought, with all its consequences, will increase over the years. And the consequences are not so small.

47% of the EU area is in “warning” state and 17% in “warning” state.

For example, the energy sector will suffer, as the low water level in lakes and rivers does not allow hydroelectric units to operate smoothly. At the same time, nuclear power plants are suffering, as warmer and reduced water in the rivers does not allow the reactors to be properly cooled. OUR Switzerland it has already been forced to close one of its three units.

At the same time, the lower water level in the rivers causes great problems for the transportation of goods along them. And only interrupt navigation before Rhine this will create insurmountable barriers to the transport of goods, as well as increase the cost of many products and significant delays in their availability.

Undoubtedly, the environment also suffers from severe drought. Rising temperatures and falling water levels in rivers can lead to massive fish mortality, as happened recently in Austria. The situation also creates unfavorable conditions for birds, which simultaneously suffer from the destruction of their habitats due to forest fires. Scientists are already warning of a rapid decline in animal species that could disrupt the food chain.

Transportation of drinking water in the Basque Country on ships

The drought… is being fought, and the north of Spain, suffering from the worst drought in 163 years, has decided to look for new ways to ensure that the inhabitants of some cities have access to drinking water.

So, to cope with a large – historic, as the authorities say – shortage of water, the state-owned water company Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia, which is responsible for the water supply of the Basque Country, has turned to maritime transport of drinking water. – two million liters a day – so that four cities do not languish with thirst.

The seawater transportation program will start immediately and this is the first time that the water supply network has been supplied in this way. The ship will transport water from the city of Bilbao to the port of Bermeo, located about 30 km away.

While the Basque Country is known for its milder climate, cooler temperatures and greener landscapes than southern parts of Spain, an intense and prolonged drought this summer has forced authorities to take drastic measures to curb the consumption of precious commodities, such as a ban on the use of water for private swimming pools. At the same time, all city fountains were closed.

Biscay recorded the lowest rainfall since 1859 from May to July, according to the Spanish Meteorological Service.

The purpose of transporting water on a ship is primarily to protect rivers and springs from which water is taken to supply the Basque Country. According to the Spanish authorities, the rest of the province is not in danger of saying “water is scarce” in the near future, since the water consumed there is taken from reservoirs.

Finally, it should be noted that, according to the UN, approximately 50% of the world’s population lives in areas at risk of water shortages at least one day a month.