The current situation of reservoirs in Spain continues to be a cause for concern, as the country’s water reserves have once again decreased in the last week. Although some regions have seen slight increases, the overall trend remains downward. Of particular note is the Segura Basin, which remains the only one below the 50 percent mark.
Spain’s Water Levels Dropping: Segura Basin Under 31.2%
The water reserve in Spanish reservoirs has decreased by 203 cubic hectometers, representing a drop of 0.4 percentage points of the total capacity. Currently, the storage capacity of the reservoirs is 42,838 hectometers, with the overall fill level at 76.4%. Despite a slight recovery of the Segura Basin from 31.1% to 31.2%, it remains the only basin whose capacity is below half.
Rainfall and Temperatures: A Mixed Picture
Recent rainfall has positively impacted the Atlantic slope and, to a lesser extent, the Mediterranean slope, according to data from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (Miteco). The highest precipitation was recorded in Valladolid with 53.1 liters per square meter.
Nevertheless, the high temperatures of recent days have resulted in no basin reaching its full capacity. Practically all basins experienced declines in their reserves, with the exception of the Ebro Basin, which rose from 88.6% to 89.7%, and the internal basins in Catalonia, which recovered from 81.8% to 82.7%.
Regional Differences in Water Reserves
The distribution of water reserves shows clear regional differences:
- Basque Country (internal basins): 95.2%
- Duero: 91.8%
- Western Cantabrian: 90.6%
- Ebro: 89.7%
- Tinto, Odiel and Piedras: 88.2%
- Miño-Sil: 87.2%
- Tagus: 85.1%
- Eastern Cantabrian: 84.9%
- Catalonia (internal basins): 82.7%
- Galicia (Costa Basin): 73.7%
- Guadiana: 69.4%
- Júcar: 62.6%
- Guadalquivir: 58.8%
- Andalusian Mediterranean: 57.1%
- Guadalete-Barbate: 53.4%
- Segura Basin: 31.2%
These figures underscore the ongoing drought in some parts of Spain and the need for careful management of existing water resources.
