Spain: Drought leading to illegal wells and blackmarket deals

June 4, 2008

FORTUNA, Spain - Southeast Spain is running out of water. After years of commercial expansion, both in agriculture and in tourism, this extreme end of the Iberian Peninsula is drying up. And the desertification is threatening the livelihoods of over 135 million people, bringing about the creation of a black market for water.

“Water will be the environmental issue this year. The problem is urgent and immediate. If you’re already having water shortages in spring, you know it’s going to be a really bad summer,” said Barbara Helferrich, spokeswoman for the European Union’s Environment Directorate, in an interview with the New York Times.