For many of us in the UK it has been the wettest (and warmest) February on record, and we’re still seeing that into the first days in March which is technically the first few days of Spring. However, not everywhere in the world has seen the same amount of rainfall as we have, which may cause problems when we travel through the popular summer months in the northern hemisphere.
Having seen this for myself, the Canary Islands has seen an incredibly dry and warm winter, much more so than normal. While this is great for those wanting to get some winter sun, it does have some consequences. The Tenerife Council has announced an emergency due to the level of water supplies on the island and is going to bring in a number of different measures aimed at making sure there is sufficient water supply. New initiatives aimed at residential areas include banning washing cars (except at service stations), filling swimming pools or reservoirs, not using showers on the beaches and trying to avoid using drinking water for irrigation.
What is more concerning, especially when we’re talking about travelling responsibly, is that tourist areas on the island use up to six times more water than residential areas. Currently, there are no restrictions for tourists.
In Tenerife, it has had the dryest autumn and winter since records began, with reservoirs a third of their capacity, more normally seen during the summer months. Sunshine hours for example have exceeded ‘normal levels’ by 10%.
Tenerife isn’t the only place in Spain with concerns about its water supply. The region of Catalunya also has low levels of water in its reservoirs and is concerned about supply for the summer.
We’ll continue to advise you to use water resources responsibly when travelling, especially in areas where supply is under threat. It’s important that we all follow the regulations set by the local authorities, no matter where we are.
