Spain's water reservoirs dip to 70% amid heatwave and drought

Spain’s water reserves have fallen to about 69.6 % of total capacity after a loss of 969 hm³ in a single week, driven by an exceptionally hot summer and near‑zero rainfall. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition reports the Ebro basin suffered the steepest decline, dropping 3.3 percentage points, while the Cantabrian Oriental and Duero basins fell 2.8 % and 2.6 % respectively. Other basins such as Miño‑Sil, Galicia Costa, the Cantabrian Occidental, the Tagus, Guadalquivir and Júcar each lost between 1 % and 2 %.

Despite the overall drop, some regions retain higher levels: Extremadura’s reservoirs remain above 70 % of capacity, and the Baiona reservoir in Galicia fell below 50 % for the first time in 15 years, prompting local water‑use restrictions. The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología notes the June‑July period was the warmest on record, intensifying evaporation and water demand for urban supply and irrigation. Authorities are urging responsible consumption while monitoring the situation.

The decline comes even though Spain still holds roughly 2,220 hm³ more water than the same date last year and remains above the ten‑year average, but the rapid weekly drop highlights the vulnerability of the country’s water system to prolonged heat and drought.