A hotspot for UK holidaymakers has officially declared a water emergency for the next six months after ongoing droughts have impacted the area, which draws millions of tourists each year
One of the most popular hotspots for UK holidaymakers has declared an initial six-month water emergency after an ongoing drought. Lanzarote and La Graciosa officially declared a water emergency on 29 November, and it aims to deal with the impacts of the continuing drought through water management measures over the next few months.
Lanzarote is an iconic holiday destination that attracts thousands of Brits each – with holidaymakers from the UK making up the biggest portion of tourists visiting the island. The Canary Islands – a Spanish archipelago off the north-west coast of Africa – continue to draw many Brits even in the off-season, who are in search of some much-needed winter sun.
The volcanic landscape combined with stunning beaches, tasty cuisine, and lively nightlife has cemented many of the Canary Islands as a go-to destination for Brits, but any visitors to Lanzarote or La Graciosa over the next few months will need to be aware of water management policies in place.
Per Canarian Weekly, an existing status of water emergency in Tenerife has also recently been extended to February, which will help “secure water for the agricultural sector” during the ongoing drought crisis. “We cannot wait for rain,” Rosa Dávila, President of the Tenerife Cabildo said. “The current water flow is still inadequate and unlikely to improve. The decree ensures we can provide sufficient water for farming.”
Some local politicians have put the blame on the tourism sector as one of the main issues that have caused the ongoing shortages of water in Tenerife, “with a five-star hotel consuming a whopping 400 litres of water per client, per day, which is up to four times more than a resident,” the Manchester Evening News reports, also noting that there is the potential if the water crisis worsens that funding water supplies may fall to tourists themselves.
The government in Lanzarote and La Graciosa aim to find sustainable ways of securing both short and long-term water supplies during the state of emergency, which will see many water management strategies implemented. Erik Martín – who manages the Insular Water Council in Lanzarote – said during the meeting where the state of emergency was declared, “We are in a critical yet temporary and reversible situation,” Canarian Weekly has reported.
The outlet also reports that the state of water emergency was passed with a majority of 23 votes, with two abstentions and three votes against.
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