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Amid Drought, Spanish Towns Will Ship Water in on Tankers

Shipping freshwater by sea is becoming a reality in a corner of Spain that’s turned to a tanker to keep the taps running amid the lowest rainfall in 163 years.

As an exceptional measure to deal with a “historical water deficit,” public utility Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia in the Basque region of northern Spain has ordered a ship to move 2 million liters of water a day to supply four towns, the company said in a press statement. The ship is currently in trials and is expected to start making regular trips from the city of Bilbao to Bermeo, a port that’s about 30 kilometers (19 miles) away by land.

Bloomberg was told by a spokesperson that water utility never has supplied water from ships to networks.

Although it’s known for milder temperatures and greener landscapes than most of central and southern Spain, the Basque country has also been hit by a severe drought this summer that’s forced authorities to take unprecedented measures, such as shutting municipal fountains or banning the filling or replenishing of private pools. In the three months to July, the Basque province of Biscay recorded the lowest rainfall since 1859, according to Spain’s weather agency.

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It is anticipated that the tanker will supply Busturialdea with water while also protecting rivers and springs where it is usually obtained. According to the utility, water supplies are pumped from reservoirs and the remainder of the province is protected from water scarcity.

Spanish newspaper El PaisThe planned water shipment was reported earlier Wednesday.

Nearly half of the global population currently lives in a zone that’s at risk of water shortages at least one month per year, according to the United Nations.

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