Spain's reservoirs sit at 73% capacity as rainfall exceeds normal levels

The Spanish government’s water ministry reports that the country's reservoirs are currently at 73.4% of their total capacity, holding about 41,110 hm³ of water out of a possible 56,042 hm³. This marks an increase of roughly 3,000 hm³ compared with the previous year and 9,300 hm³ above the ten‑year average, but the level has been declining since May, when it was above 84%.

Regional water stocks vary: the Júcar basin is at 60.8%, Galicia‑Costa at 65.2%, while internal basins in the Basque Country and Catalonia exceed 85%. The Atlantic side averages 74.8% and the Mediterranean side 68.8%.

Meanwhile, the state meteorological agency (AEMET) records 614 litres per square metre of precipitation accumulated from 1 October to 21 July, about 8% above the long‑term normal of 566 l/m². The excess is strongest in southern Spain, especially the Sierra de Grazalema, and in the Canary Islands, where some areas received over twice the usual amount. Isolated rainfalls were also noted in northern coastal regions and on the island of Gran Canaria.