Galicia environment minister discusses increasing water reservoirs

Ángeles Vázquez, the Galician Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has stated that the regional government should not fear discussing the need to reservoir more water to address drought concerns. She clarified that this does not imply a plan to build massive dams across the entire region, but rather suggests that small-scale infrastructure could help manage uncomfortable water shortages.

Vázquez emphasized that reservoir expansion is not the sole solution. She highlighted the importance of better utilizing existing water resources by reducing leaks in the distribution network. She noted that municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants lose approximately 20% of their water due to leaks, urging local leaders to inspect pipes rather than just repaving streets.

Regarding the current drought status, the Minister described the situation as not being “dramatic” or “generalized,” asserting that Galicia will not run out of water. Currently, 32 municipalities are on alert and 35 are on pre-alert, primarily linked to the Lérez and Anllóns rivers. She also noted that while 104 of Galicia's 313 municipalities have drought plans in place, progress must continue.