Ourense water boards cut usage as heatwave strains supplies and highlights social gaps

In the Ourense region of north‑west Spain, prolonged drought and two recent heat waves have prompted water supply associations to impose consumption limits. The András community in Vilanova de Arousa, serving more than 150 homes, capped usage at 800 liters per day and banned activities such as car washing, bucket‑filling and pool filling. Officials say the river Umia’s flow remains adequate, but pressure spikes have already required careful management.

An accompanying analysis notes that the extreme temperatures reveal stark social inequalities. Recorded temps reached 65 °C in a police station plaza while the historic centre stayed between 27 °C and 33 °C. Vulnerable groups—elderly residents living alone, low‑income tenants, and informal workers—experience disproportionate health risks, and the municipality lacks any climate‑refuge or shade‑corridor programmes. The disparity is linked to housing quality, income, age and gender, with women‑housekeepers often exposed longer to un‑cooled homes.