According to Barcelo (2008), this observed decline in natural water availability is consistent with projections according to which climatic change causes rainfall to diminish in the Mediterranean region, and in Spain especially markedly so. Rainfall is projected to fall by a further 22-34% between 1995 and 2060 in Southern river basins.3 These are, already today, identified as those being most strongly at risk of overuse of scarce resources. Moreover, these trends will be reinforced by the effects of higher temperatures on evapotranspiration.