Portugal Accuses Spain Of Water Theft As Drought Grinds On - Guardian

[hatrack]

Portugal has accused Spain of stealing its water as the two Iberian countries battle a drought that has seriously reduced levels in rivers flowing across their border.

Portugal has demanded €6m (£4m) in compensation from Spain after levels of water in the Douro river have fallen below limits established in a bilateral agreement. The source of many of Portugal's big rivers start in Spain.

Portugal is experiencing its worst drought for 60 years, with reserves along the Douro down to around 50% just as the summer starts. Other parts of the country are suffering more, with reserves along the Arade river in the southern Algarve down to 12%, according to government figures last month.

Spanish officials have admitted that they have probably broken the 1998 agreement intended to stop bickering over water."

EDIT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1500806,00.html

[smirkymonkey]

1. The question is....

When are we going to start attacking sovereign states for their water?

The water wars will be worse than the oil wars

[Dogmudgeon]

2. This looks like a job for EEC MAN!

Seriously, this is the kind of dispute that the European Economic Community could, and should, undertake to resolve. Since the climate is becoming more chaotic, forgoing regional political cross-support is an invitation to some serious losses. And the whole Iberian peninsula is in a drought condition.

--p!