Spain ships water into Barcelona to help alleviate drought

Spain’s worst drought in decades forced the proud city of Barcelona to start shipping in drinking water Tuesday, an unprecedented step that business leaders bemoan as a public relations nightmare for one of Europe’s top tourist destinations.

A Panamanian-flagged tanker loaded with water docked in Spain’s second-largest city, launching a mission by an emergency, six-vessel flotilla scheduled to operate for at least three months.

Tuesday’s scene was humbling for Catalonia, the capital of which is Barcelona, with more than 100 journalists crowded at the dock to record the water delivery.

The region likes to say it stands out from the rest of Spain for its efficiency and economic might. But it has been among the regions hardest hit by Spain’s worst springtime drought since record-keeping began 60 years ago.

“It has been one of the driest years ever, and Barcelona has found itself in need of water,” said Leonard Carcole, director-general of Aguas de Barcelona, the city’s utility. … more>>