Galicia faces historic low water levels as authorities urge conservation

Water reservoirs in Galicia have dropped to 66% of capacity, the lowest level recorded in the past 25 years, after a month of virtually no rainfall. The July 2022 (and again in 2026) statistics show zero millimetres of precipitation across the province, making it the driest month of the century. The regional water agency Augas de Galicia has kept the pre‑alert status for water scarcity in place, warning that the Lérez River is running at minimal flow and that the Pontillón reservoir is only at 83.5% occupancy.

Municipalities are urging residents to cut consumption. Valdoviño’s council recommends drip‑irrigation, reduced shower flow and other simple measures that can cut household use by up to 60 %. In Pontevedra, the mayor Eva Vilaverde reiterated the pre‑alert and advised against filling private pools with municipal water while promoting similar water‑saving practices. The combined effort aims to mitigate the ecological impact on the Lérez and ensure sufficient supply for the summer tourist influx.