The Council of Ministers approved Spain’s new hydrological plans this Tuesday, outlining water management strategy through 2027. The plan emphasizes tackling climate change and the growing frequency of droughts and floods, linking more than 6,500 measures to an investment of 22,844 million euros.
With the approval of these cumulative plans, Spain marks its largest investment ever in improving water resources. Teresa Ribera, the third vice-president and Minister of Ecological Transition, stated at the end of the Council that a long process to modernize hydrological planning has reached its culmination.
The measures aim to reduce flood and drought risks, support environmental targets, protect biodiversity, and advance adaptation to climate change. The overall investment shows a strong redistribution: 10,600 million euros from the General Government Administration (46.7%), 8,300 million (36.3%) funded by regional authorities, 2,300 million (10.2%) from local governments, and 1,500 million (6.7%) from other financing bodies.
The largest allocations go to health and treatment infrastructure (6,643 million), irrigation systems (5,070 million), and water supply improvements (2,260 million).
Major investments planned to support irrigation
2,077 million will support flood risk management, restoration, and protection of public hydraulic infrastructure, around 1,300 million will fund environmental recovery efforts, and about 1,270 million will be directed toward desalination and reuse projects.
General studies and other actions—such as hydrological planning, management of the public hydraulic domain, network monitoring, information management, maintenance of infrastructure, and aquifer restoration—will total 4,228.9 million.
Ecological flow figures introduced for the first time
Differing from earlier phases, the new plans set ecological flow ranges for all water bodies by defining minimum and maximum levels to safeguard water body ecosystems and the broader territory.
In addition, measures to reduce environmental pressures on water bodies are included, along with actions that address the activities causing those pressures. The ecological transition office notes that river flows in Spain have declined about 12 percent since 1980, and the plan proposes a shift in how resources are used to align with water availability driven by climate change.
Allocations for different uses have been reduced from 28,000 hm3/year in previous plans to 26,800 hm3/year, a move intended to ensure equal water access for all citizens. The Tagus ecological flow has sparked debate among the government and the Levante communities, who worry it could threaten the Tajo-Segura transfer and the tens of thousands of hectares of irrigated land and jobs dependent on it.
In the worst-case scenario presented, the gradual rise in the Tagus ecological flow could reduce the transfer by 70 to 110 hectares, while investments to guarantee desalinated and reused water supply and additional contributions could be enough to protect at least 140 hectares. The minister emphasized that water efficiency and loss prevention will reduce waste, and she underscored that supplying water for agricultural needs should remain affordable for farmers.
Plans encourage diversifying water sources, with greater emphasis on desalination to ensure supply while balancing environmental demands. Water quality improvements and sanitation upgrades align with European waste-water protection regulations, and measures to combat widespread pollution and emerging contaminants such as microplastics and antibiotics are included.
The new planning also emphasizes ecological restoration of river areas and flood risk reduction through nature-based and water-safety solutions. Together with the recently approved Flood Risk Management plan and the forthcoming Drought Special Plans, these measures aim to keep water bodies in good condition and advance water security and environmental protection without compromising socio-economic development, as stated by the ministry. In summary, the strategy is about safeguarding water resources while supporting agricultural and urban needs and ensuring steady progress toward climate resilience. (Citation: Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica y el Reto Demográfico.)
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Note: this document reflects official planning and policy direction related to Spain’s water management strategy and its implications for environmental and economic sustainability.