Spain’s reservoirs hold 19,671 cubic meters of water, equating to 35 percent of total capacity. The country has seen a 0.9 percent decline from last week, continuing a pattern of shrinking storage that affects multiple regions. This trend matters for urban supply, farming, and ecosystems that depend on steady rainfall and stored water at the basin level.
Data from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge shows rainfall has primarily blessed the Mediterranean slope, delivering heavy precipitation there while the Atlantic coast experienced a milder impact. The highest rainfall recorded was 38.5 liters per square meter in Reus, highlighting uneven distribution that adds pressure to drier zones. This uneven pattern shapes decisions about water use, risk management, and regional planning in the near term.
Hydrographic basins vary in remaining water and capacity. Inland basins in the Basque Country stand at 76.2 percent of capacity, the Eastern Cantabrian Sea basins at 69.9 percent, and the basins of the Tinto, Odiel, and Piedras at 66.4 percent. These figures reveal diverse hydrological conditions across Spain, where some regions retain more usable water than others despite overall low storage levels. Conservative stewardship of these resources becomes crucial as climate pressures intensify.
In contrast, certain basins are most affected by the shortage. The Guadalquivir basin shows 21.4 percent capacity, the Guadiana at 24.2 percent, and the Guadalete-Barbate at 24.5 percent. The disparities stress the urgent need for regional water management strategies that can adapt to seasonal variability and longer-term climate trends, while protecting agricultural livelihoods and municipal supply. Local authorities emphasize targeted conservation, investment in resilience, and adaptive irrigation approaches to cushion communities against droughts.
The table below outlines the current status of the basins, including capacity, current storage, and the proportion of dammed water:
Basin Capacity – Current – Dammed
East Bay of Biscay: 73% – 51 – 69.9%
West Cantabrian Sea: 518 – 304 – 58.7%
Miño-Delete: 3,030 – 1,443 – 47.6%
Galician Coast: 684 – 378 – 55.3%
Basque Country’s inner basins: 21 – 16 – 76.2%
Douro: 7,507 – 2,786 – 37.1%
Pit: 11,056 – 4,101 – 37.1%
Guadiana: 9,498 – 2,295 – 24.2%
Red, Odiel and Gems: 229 – 152 – 66.4%
Guadalete-Barbat: 1,651 – 404 – 24.5%
Guadalquivir: 8,113 – 1,740 – 21.4%
Andalusian Mediterranean: 1,174 – 483 – 41.1%
Safe: 1,140 – 413 – 36.2%
Jucar: 2,846 – 1,555 – 54.6%
Ebro: 7,919 – 3,288 – 41.5%
Catalonia’s inner basins: 677 – 262 – 38.7%
TOTAL: 56,136 – 19,671 – 35.0%
Recent rainfall has significantly influenced the overall water balance, particularly on the Mediterranean slope, with the Atlantic slope also seeing some relief but to a lesser extent. Reus recorded the maximum rainfall at 38.5 liters per square meter, illustrating the uneven precipitation pattern that shapes water security decisions across regions. The current picture underscores the need for ongoing monitoring of rainfall, river inflows, reservoir levels, and groundwater status to guide planning and resource allocation.
Future water planning in Spain relies on continuous monitoring of rainfall, river inflows, reservoir levels, and groundwater status. Authorities emphasize the importance of efficient water use, modernization of irrigation systems, and the maintenance of critical storage across basins to reduce vulnerability during dry periods. This approach supports farmers, cities, and ecosystems alike as climate patterns shift and variability grows.
Additional data and ongoing assessments are periodically shared by the Environment department to support informed decisions by water managers, farmers, and local communities. The records reflect a broader national effort to balance immediate water needs with long-term climate resilience. (Source: Miteco, with ongoing updates from regional water authorities.)