Fewer tourists – less water used

Businesses and households in the south of Alicante province and Murcia region used nearly 8% less water over the summer as visitor numbers plummeted due to the Covid19 pandemic. The Mancomunidad de Canales del Taibilla ( MCT) – which supplies tap water to 80 municipalities in the area – said the sharpest decrease when compared with the 2019 figures had come in coastal areas.

They noted a 7.9% fall in the south of Alicante province over July and August and an average reduction of 7.6% for coastal areas of Murcia region.

The largest drop came in Lo Pagán in San Pedro del Pinatar which saw consumption plummet by 23%, followed by 18.4% in Los Alcázares.

MCT president Francisca Baraza noted that it was ‘ probable’ that the coronavirus pandemic and the poor condition of the Mar Menor had led to fewer tourists visiting that area. Despite the reduction, the shortage of rain has meant that water stored in the Segura basin has gone down by ten points over the summer. Reservoirs now stand at 38% of total capacity compared to 48% back in May.