00:00Which European countries are running out of water?
00:08The level of water used in the EU might seem under control.
00:12They're currently at 5.8% for the whole block, which would be okay if only this were a case
00:18where the average mattered. The reality is that differences across the continent are striking
00:23and concerning. Take Cyprus, which, according to the latest Eurostat data,
00:28has used up 72% of its freshwater resources. To put that into context, the country is in the
00:35warning zone when it's using 20% or more of its water. Earlier this year, Cypriot authorities
00:42urged residents to save 10% of their daily water use, which amounts to about two minutes.
00:49The government's been scrambling to install desalanization plants to meet drinking water
00:54needs, particularly ahead of the holiday season. And the fact that Cyprus's population is growing
01:00rapidly isn't good news for the country's water resources. After Cyprus comes Malta with a 33%
01:08annual water usage rate. But things get worse in the summer, when the water stress level rises to 67%.
01:17And it's a similar story for other countries. The level of water exploitation in Greece,
01:23Romania, Portugal, Italy and Spain all sit well inside the warning zone during the summer period.
01:29Music
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