Water crisis – The Watchers

Iraq launches water initiative as reserves hit 80-year low

Rishav Kothari — Wed, 28 May 2025 11:58:00 +0000

The Iraqi government has announced a new water initiative to manage water resources from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as the country records its lowest water reserves in 80 years. Current storage levels are at only 10 billion m³ compared to the seasonal norm of 18 billion m³ threatening the country's agricultural production.

Source

Catalonia’s worst drought in a century prompts declaration of drought emergency, new water restrictions, Spain

Teo Blašković — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 12:29:15 +0000

Barcelona and the wider region of Catalonia have declared a drought emergency following three consecutive years of insufficient rainfall, leading to reservoir levels falling critically low. Pere Aragones, the head of the regional government, announced immediate water-saving restrictions affecting six million people. With reservoirs at less than 16% capacity, the emergency is described as the worst drought Catalonia has experienced in a century, necessitating drastic reductions in water usage for residents, municipalities, farmers, and businesses alike.

Source

Euphrates River’s water level hits historic low at Tabqa Dam, Syria

Teo Blašković — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 19:06:16 +0000

The water level of the Euphrates River has plummeted drastically over the past three weeks, reaching a concerning historical low at Tabqa Dam, Syria. This alarming decline has left the Alouk water station non-functional since June 23, impacting close to one million residents of the Hassakeh governorate in various vital sectors.

Source

Southern Europe restricts drinking water access

Teo Blašković — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 23:09:49 +0000

Governments from Portugal to Italy are calling on citizens to limit water use to a bare minimum due to severe drought and scarce rainfall.

Source

Po River at record-low levels, densely populated large fertile region of Italy suffering worst drought in 70 years, Italy

Teo Blašković — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 13:48:47 +0000

Unusually low levels of River Po - Italy's largest river - are transforming the country's large fertile region, affecting crop production and threatening the densely populated region with a serious drinking water shortage.

Source

Worst drought in 40 years affecting Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia

Teo Blašković — Mon, 16 May 2022 16:44:14 +0000

The Horn of Africa is experiencing its fourth consecutive failed rain season and the worst drought since 1981. At least 15 million people across Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia are already affected and there are fears this number could jump to 20 million.

Source

Southern California declares first-ever water shortage emergency, imposes unprecedented water usage restrictions, U.S.

Teo Blašković — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 07:43:08 +0000

fficials in Southern California have declared a water shortage emergency for the first time ever and imposed unprecedented outdoor water usage restrictions on roughly 6 million people.

Source

Lake Mead hits record low, triggering its first-ever shortage declaration, U.S.

Teo Blašković — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 17:12:00 +0000

Water levels at Lake Mead have fallen to record lows this summer, prompting officials to declare the reservoir's first-ever water shortage on August 16, 2021. Lake Mead is a man-made reservoir on the Colorado River formed in the 1930s from damming the river at...

Source

Oroville Reservoir at record low level, California shuts down their second-largest hydroelectric plant

TW — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 08:32:00 +0000

The Oroville Reservoir reached a record low level of 195.66 m (641.93 feet) above mean sea level on August 5, 2021, forcing authorities in California to shut down their second-largest hydroelectric plant. This is now the lowest level since the nation's tallest...

Source

Northern California under water shortage emergency, farmers warn water is unnecessarily let out to sea

Julie Celestial — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 12:10:00 +0000

Nearly two million people in Northern California have been placed under a water shortage emergency on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, as a severe drought continues to worsen in much of the western U.S. Mandatory water restrictions have been issued for Santa Clara County,...

Source