Tajo-Segura water transfer management dispute

Tensions regarding the Tajo-Segura water transfer have escalated due to depleted hydrological reserves and disputes over water management priorities.

In mid-August 2026, the Red del Tajo platform reported that authorized water transfers to the Segura basin had completely exhausted the hydrological reserves accumulated over the previous two years. Spokesperson Miguel Ángel Sánchez noted that the Entrepeñas and Buendía reservoirs were dropping rapidly, stating the system had lost “two years of resilience.” The platform criticized current official flow rates and questioned the reliability of data provided by the Tajo Hydrographic Confederation.

By late August, the Government of Castilla-La Mancha demanded the immediate application of new exploitation rules for the transfer. Regional authorities, including Pablo Bellido, president of the Cortes of Castilla-La Mancha, called for prioritizing local water usage in the Tajo and Sorbe rivers over demands from the Levante region and Madrid.

On August 30, Montserrat Muro, the Director General of Water, emphasized that securing water quantity and quality is vital for the region’s socioeconomic development, biodiversity, and historical traditions. The regional executive has submitted claims to the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge regarding the seven river basins passing through the region, specifically requesting the Sorbe-Bornova connection to maintain the Tajo River ecosystem during the 2028-2033 hydrological planning cycle.