Amid Drought Crisis, Spain Cuts Off Water Supply to Millionaires ‘Playground’ Sotogrande
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Amid a drought crisis in Spain, the local authorities at Sotogrande, commonly known as a millionaire’s playground, cut off the water supply for the rich neighbourhood. Due to his, the resort, which is home to many celebrities and British expats were forced into “third world” conditions for half the day on Thursday.
As per a report by Daily Mail, families in the luxurious Spanish resort were given one day’s warning to fill buckets of water to flush their toilets’ and to buy bottled water.
Authorities informed the luxurious home owners on Tuesday that the first shut down will take place from 9 PM to 7 AM. The home owners – which range from royal families to Russian oligarchs – were told to stock up on water.
Aguas del Valle de Guardiaro wrote to all homeowners in Sotogrande to inform them of the water cut.
“Sotogrande and Pueblo Nuevo de Guardiaro are in consumption values well above those set by La Mesa de La Sequia and the Cabinet of Crisis of Campo de Gibraltar. Which is why the administration is forcing us to take a series of measures that nobody wants but must be compiled with,” read the notice sent to the residents.
Despite the mail saying that water supply would be restored by 6 to 7 AM, many homeowners stated that water supply did not resume until 10:30 AM.
‘It came as a huge shock when we were only told of this the day before. The whole communication around this has failed completely,” Rob Brummer told the Daily Mail.
Amongst the various restrictions imposed on Sotogrande’s residents is a ban on watering gardens, cleaning roads and driveways, fountains, washing cars and filling up private pools. Residents in Valle Romano in Costa del Sol have also been left without water for upto five days.
Drought Crisis Ongoing Since 2016
In the southern region of Andalucía in Spain, a water crisis and drought like situations have been prevalent since 2016. The crisis is at a point where Spain has been ranked amongst the 10 most costly climate disasters in the world.
Since February 2024, multiple billboards and placards have been placed across Spanish cities with the message “Water Doesn’t Fall From The Sky” in order to make residents save water.
