Hundreds of people have been left without safe drinking water in the Serrania de Ronda following weeks of endless storms.
Among the worst affected is the town of Benaojan, home to around 1,500 residents, who must all now use bottled water for drinking and cooking.
It comes as the Ronda region is set for weather chaos on Wednesday, when a red alert is in effect for a full 24 hours.
The alert expects up to 150mm of rain per square metre over a 12-hour period, which could exceed 200mm over 24 hours. There is also a yellow alert for strong winds of up to 80km/hr.
Last Friday, tests on tap water in Benaojan revealed high levels of turbidity and the local council declared it not fit for drinking – a situation that has now lasted four days.
The restriction means the water cannot be used for drinking or food preparation until further notice, although it remains suitable for personal hygiene and sanitary use.
Mayor Guillermo Becerra said the water currently carries a heavy load of sediment.
Benaojan’s well is located just upstream from the Los Cascajales spring, part of the underground system that feeds the Guadiaro River.
‘The streams are now running like chocolate, with so much run-off,’ Becerra explained, pointing to the intense turbidity.
He added that the core problem is that ‘the ground can’t absorb any more water’ meaning that ‘everything that falls, runs straight off’.
The Proteccion Civil force has been distributing bottled water to residents since Friday.
The first tanker was sourced by the town hall itself, while a second was provided by the Junta de Andalucia via the 112 Andalucía system and transported from Cordoba by the Red Cross.
Support has also come from the Spanish Legion (Tercio Alejandro Farnesio, 4th Regiment), which supplied a small water tanker to help ensure access for residents.
The council has also set up a fixed distribution point so locals who miss the mobile deliveries can still collect drinking water.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
