Persistent Droughts Threaten Water Supplies and Crops in Europe and Northern Africa

Persistent droughts are causing significant challenges for water resources and agriculture in Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, where the MARCLAIMED project hosts its demo sites. While Northern Africa continues to experience severe drought, southern Europe is facing its own crisis, with two consecutive years of below-average rainfall and higher temperatures impacting critical water supplies and crop yields.

The situation is particularly dire for water resources, as prolonged drought has drastically reduced reservoir levels, river flows, and groundwater reserves. In Spain and Portugal, key reservoirs are approaching critical thresholds, threatening both drinking water supplies and the irrigation systems vital for agriculture.

Water scarcity is becoming an urgent concern, with many regions implementing strict water-use restrictions to preserve dwindling resources. In the Netherlands, where water management systems are already under pressure, the combination of reduced rainfall and declining river levels poses a serious threat to agricultural productivity and freshwater availability.