Spain brings back 'two bans' with UK tourists warned

An ongoing drought crisis in two popular Spanish holiday hotspots has prompted fresh bans.

Filling swimming pools and watering gardens has been banned in Malaga and on the Costa del Sol as new drought restrictions are looming. An ongoing drought crisis in two popular Spanish holiday hotspots has prompted fresh bans.

Restrictions on refilling swimming pools and watering gardens will be reinstated as reservoir levels in Malaga province dwindle below 100 cubic hectometres as the drought crisis continues to bite across the European Union holiday hotspot.

The Junta de Andalucia’s drought committee is said to be considering lowering the current allocation of 200 litres per inhabitant per day. Malaga’s association of property administrators (CAF) sent a reminder out to its members over the issue.

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“The use of water resources fit for human consumption is prohibited for the following uses: street washing, filling private swimming pools, watering gardens, public and private parks, golf courses, washing cars outside authorised establishments, fountains that do not have a closed water circuit, public fountains and pumps,” the CAF reminder said.

The property administrators are waiting for new regional and municipal drought orders, the association also added. The province-wide exemptions came into force on 1 June. They allowed the refilling of private swimming pools (both communal and private) and the watering of public and private green areas once a week.

This provision is expected to be revised downwards this week, although there may be differences between the Costa del Sol, Malaga and Axarquia due to their varying water situations. The provision is not the daily consumption of a typical family - this is much lower, normally 130 litres.

Differences between the Costa del Sol, Malaga and Axarquia cannot be ruled out due to their varying water situations, Sur has reported. At the worst moment of the drought, levels reached 97, however rainfall at Easter pumped them back up to 170.

Currently, the province has 30 cubic hectometres less than this time last year.