In 2025, Spain faces its most severe drought on record. Reservoirs are at 36% of their capacity—20 percentage points below the average for the last decade—and rainfall has decreased by 28% compared to the historical average. While authorities debate short-term solutions, experts point out that it is essential to go beyond desalination and adopt structural measures that address the root of the problem.
The Current Outlook: Alarming Figures
Situation by River Basin
- Guadiana: 24% capacity (historical low)
- Guadalquivir: 29% (irrigation restrictions starting in 2024)
- Duero: 38% (50% less than in 2020)
- Ebro: 42% (relatively better situation)
- Mediterranean Basins: 18-25% (critical state)
Specific Impacts
- Agriculture: 450,000 hectares of dryland without harvest in 2025
- Urban Supply: 125 municipalities with nighttime restrictions
- Ecosystems: 40% of protected wetlands at risk of drying out
Beyond Desalination: Comprehensive Solutions
1. Revolution in Agriculture (45% of water consumption)
- Crops Resilient:
- Super-intensive olive groves (50% less water than traditional ones)
- Dry-farmed almond groves (late-season varieties that avoid summer droughts)
- Precision technology:
- AI-powered humidity sensors reduce irrigation by 30%
- Pulse irrigation in vineyards (better than conventional drip)
2. Soil Regeneration
- Regenerative agriculture:
- 1% increase in organic matter → +150,000 L/ha of retention
- Plant covers in almond groves (reduces evaporation by 40%)
- Hidden precipitation: Restoration of terraces to capture fog
3. Artificial aquifer recharge
- Active projects:
- Llobregat (Barcelona): Recharge 80 hm³/year with winter surpluses
- Vega de Granada: Restoration of the historical water table
- Technology: Controlled infiltration wells Satellite
4. Virtual Water Management
- Food Water Footprint:
- Reduce high-consumption crops for export (alfalfa, berries)
- Incentives for low-footprint foods (lentils, chickpeas, almonds)
- Industry: Efficient water use certifications for export products
Success Stories in Spain (2025)
“AquaResilient” Project (Murcia)
- Goal: Reuse 95% of urban water
- Results:
- 45 hm³/year for agriculture (equivalent to the consumption of 1.2 million people)
- Laminating pond system to capture torrential rains
“Secanos Vivos” Initiative (Aragón)
- Focus: Rainfed agriculture with modernized ancestral techniques
- Achievements:
- 25% increase in soil water retention
- Recovery of native cereal varieties Resistant
“Water from Fog” Plan (Canary Islands)
- Technology: High-efficiency fog collectors
- Figures:
- 5,000 L/day per collector in high-altitude areas
- Supplementary water supply for 3,000 inhabitants
Barriers to Overcome
Legislative
- Obsolete Water Law: Does not contemplate prolonged drought management
- Jurisdictional conflict: Between water administrations
Cultural
- Perception of abundance: Despite climate evidence
- Resistance to change: In traditional agricultural models
Economic
- Insufficient funding: For irrigation modernization
- Agricultural insurance: Does not cover losses due to prolonged drought
The Way Forward: 10 Urgent Measures
- National Hydrological Restoration Plan (€20 billion until 2030)
- Moratorium on new irrigation in deficit basins
- Accelerated conversion of 150,000 hectares from irrigated land to dry land
- Progressive tariffs by consumption segments
- Tax deductions for farmers who reduce consumption by more than 20%
- Investment in R&D in cell cultures and vertical agriculture
- Restoration of rivers and gullies as corridors Ecological-Water
- Satellite-based early warning systems for water stress
- Awareness campaigns on the real water footprint
- Virtual transfers through the exchange of agricultural products
The Future: Towards a New Water Culture
2030 Scenario (if we act now):
- 35% reduction in agricultural consumption
- 60% recovery of overexploited aquifers
- Water self-sufficiency in 8 of 10 basins currently in deficit
“The worst drought is not that of reservoirs, but that of ideas. Fortunately, solutions exist and are more accessible than we think” — Dr. Fernando Aranda, CSIC hydrologist.
