Spain is currently facing its most severe water crisis in at least a century. This extremely severe drought has prompted Catalan authorities to take drastic steps, including imposing a state of emergency. The decision, which follows months of warnings and appeals to conserve water, underscores the severity of the situation facing the region. The drought, which has lasted nearly 40 months and is considered the worst since the introduction of monitoring, is having serious consequences. The water reservoirs on the Ter and Llobregat rivers, which supply water to some 6 million people in northern Catalonia, are currently less than 16 percent full, a record low. The declaration of a state of emergency means the imposition of severe restrictions on water consumption in all sectors, including residents, agriculture, industry or recreational activities.