The use of recyled water for ornamental cabbages, cycad palms and flowers in Esetpona |
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Water Supply in Andalucia
by Chris Chaplow
Water Shortage News
What are the current Water Shortage restrictions?
Water levels in the Andalusian reservoirs have, with exception of 2018, fallen steadily since 2013. How much or when should the current water shortage have been foreseen by the authorities? In the Andalucia Mediterranean water basin's, 2022-2027 five-year plan, the demand for water is calculated at 1,325 hm3 and the supply, calculated with rainfall based on historical averages -not a drought, is 1,151 hm3. Whether this set off alarm bells in the public administration or not little preparation was undertaken as can be seen from our water shortage news chronology.
One must differentiate the natural phenomenon of drought from a water shortage, which is associated with the deficit of meeting the demands of a water supply. The regional government chooses to call the current problem a drought in all communications. However, the current problem is not primarily a drought, but a water shortage.
This long section on water scarcity began in 2022 with the simple desire to write a page to explain and advise tourists and residents of Andalusia on the details of the water scarcity. We did this successfully during the Covid pandemic. Again we note that the media resort to cherry-picking scary headlines with statistics that are meaningless without context. Most reporting comes from institutional communications and mixing units. However, the complexity of even the Costa del Sol's water basin, let alone Andalusia's system, surpassed even the Covid analysis. This entire section is the result of the research required to even begin the explanatory page. We hope you find it useful.
Water Cycle in Andalucia and its Mediterranean Basin
The source of water is obviously rainfall. Of this rainfall, most evaporates, some sinks into the ground to replenish the large natural underground reservoirs, and some runs off the land in streams and rivers. Some of the rivers are 'controlled', meaning that they have a dam to store the water in a reservoir and release a more even volume of water downstream.
Drinking water is drawn from underground reservoirs through natural springs and man-made wells, and also from the reservoirs through long pipelines. It has to be purified and pumped up to a 'head tank' on high ground near the city, town or village.
Supply for irrigation comes from man-made boreholes and wells, extraction from rivers and also supply from the reservoirs.
The supply for industry generally comes from river abstraction.
The water in reservoirs is easy to measure and the supply is controlled. Underground storage is more difficult to estimate and in Andalucia the principle is that no more should be taken from springs, boreholes and wells than is replenished by rainfall. Minimum flows are set for all rivers so that over-abstraction does not damage the natural environment. These minimum flows are reduced in times of drought.
A characteristic of a coastal basin is that any 'excess' water that flows down the lower part of a river to the sea is 'lost' from the point of water use. Similarly, rainfall that falls on the coastal strip, and particularly on urban areas, does not replenish the natural underground storage and is 'lost' to the sea.
The amount of water recycled from wastewater treatment plants for secondary use is negligible in 2024. The amount of water desalinated in 2024 is also very small.
In order to evaluate the seriousness of the water shorage in Andalucia, all we have to do is to add numers to the above description and do the maths.
Water Shortage in Andalucia - Background
Since the Water Act of 1985, all water in Spain is public and generally the exclusive right to use water is obtained administrative licence. Previously, groundwater could be privately owned and these owners could continue by declaring their existence to their River Basin Authority, or choose to move onto the public regime. Private waters do not have the administrative protection of public waters. The Water Act also introduced the requirement for a National Hydrological Plan, the first of which was published in 1999.
The National Government published a white paper in 2004 setting out their plans for the modification to the large national water basins (in Andalucia this is the Demarcación Hidrográfica del Guadalquivir) and the transition of responsibility for the smaller basins to the regional governments. (In Andalucia this is Demarcación Hidrográfica de las Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas, Demarcación Hidrográfica del Guadalete y Barbate and Demarcación Hidrográfica del Tinto, Odial y Piedras. More about the Demarcación Hidrograficas of Andalucia.
Each of the Demarcación Hidrográfica (water basin managers) are required to formulate and publish a five year Plan Hidrológico, the current plans cover 2022-2027. In parallel they are required to formulate and publish a Special Drought Plan (Plan Especial Sequia - PES) and a Special Flood Plan.
Water supply - Reservoirs
In 2013, Andalucian reservoirs were at a peak capacity of 73% and investment projects were given low priority by all administrations. The six-year hydrological plans for each water basin were published for 2009-2015, 2015-2021 and 2022-2027. After 2013, the capacity of the reservoirs has been steadily decreasing by about 5% per year due to low rainfall and high agricultural use. By 2022, the capacity of reservoirs supplying agricultural irrigation, such as Lake Viñuela, was significantly lower than that of reservoirs supplying cities.
Total volume of water in reservoirs of Andalucia on 1st October each year, the first day of the hydrological year, traditionaly a low point after the summer and befor the winter rains. The total full capacity is 11.922 hm3.
| 1st October | hm3 | % |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 9.008 | 75 % |
| 2012 | 6.545 | 54 % |
| 2013 | 8.675 | 73% |
| 2014 | 8.505 | 71 % |
| 2015 | 7.218 | 61 % |
| 2016 | 5.940 | 50 % |
| 2017 | 4.392 | 37 % |
| 2018 | 6.475 | 54 % |
| 2019 | 4.709 | 39 % |
| 2020 | 3.978 | 34 % |
| 2021 | 3.666 | 31 % |
| 2022 | 2.783 | 23 % |
| 2023 | 2.283 | 20% |
Source Reserva de embalses de Andalucía (Datos históricos). Live date of Andalucia Reserviors
Total volume of water in reservoirs of the Andalucia Mediterranean Basin on 1st October each year, the first day of the hydrological year, traditionaly a low point after the summer and before the winter rains. The total full capacity is 1.177 hm3.
| 1st October | hm3 | % |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 813 | 69 % |
| 2012 | 649 | 55 % |
| 2013 | 841 | 72% |
| 2014 | 680 | 58 % |
| 2015 | 577 | 49 % |
| 2016 | 415 | 35 % |
| 2017 | 399 | 34 % |
| 2018 | 632 | 54 % |
| 2019 | 609 | 52 % |
| 2020 | 520 | 44 % |
| 2021 | 447 | 38 % |
| 2022 | 447 | 38 % |
| 2023 | 276 | 24 % |
| 2024-04-12 | 352 | 30 % |
Source: Reserva de embalses de Andalucía Rediam (Datos históricos pdf). Live date of Andalucia Reserviors
The main reservoirs and their capacities that store water to in the Andalucia Mediterranean Basin are the following:
Guadarranque reservoir (88 mH3) and Charco Redondo reservoir (82 hm3) together with a capacity of 170 hm3 supply drinking water and the industry in Algeciras and Campo de Gibraltar and Sotogrande. Irrigation is supplied under the 'Plan Cordinado del Guadaranque'.
La Concepcion reservoir (62 hm3) on the Rio Verde above Marbella with a supplies drinking water to Marbella and western Costa del Sol. it is also fed from tunnels constructed after the 1990s drought from Rivers Guadaiza, Guadalmansa and Guadalmina.
Guadalhorce-Guadalteba reservoirs are actually a group of six reservoirs north of Malaga city. The three main ones are Conde de Guadalhorse (67 Mh3) built by Rafael Benjumena in 1914, plus larger Guadalteba (153 Mh3) and Guadalhorce (126 hm3) both built in 1966. Together they supply drinking water to Malaga city. They also supply irrigation water under the Plan Cordinado del Guadalhorce. Wikipedia Casasola (24 hm3) opened in 2.000 and Limonero opened in 1983 (25 hm3) are smaller reservoirs mainly for river flood control and minimum flow control. Limonero has a backup pipeline direct to Malaga city's Atabal drinking water purification plant.
La Viñuela reservoir (165 hm3) built in 1984 on the River Guaro supplies drinking water to la Axarquia and irrigation water to River Velez and Guaro. The Viñuela - Malaga connection was installed after the drought in the 1990s as an emergency supply for Malaga city. In 2022/4 it was used in reverse.
Béznar reservoir 53 (hm3) completed in 1986 is located on the Ízbor river, the main tributary of the River Guadalfeo, in the district of Valle de Lecrín, south of Granada. Its system was enlarged with the Rules reservoir 111 (hm3) completed in 2004 located downstream on the River Guadalfeo. Together they supply drinking and irrigation water to Costa Tropical. Wikipedia
Beninar reservoir 62 (hm3) on the River Adra was given go ahead in 1958 but not completed until 1983 due to the village that was destroyed, including its church - formerly a mosque - and its inhabitants were forced to emigrate. It supplies drinking and irrigation water to Campo de Dalías. The capacity of Beninar reservoir is limited because not all the basin was waterproofed. Its practical capacity is 15 hm3, with the surplus seeping into the subsoil. Wikipedia
Cuevas del Almanzora reservoir (161 hm3) built in 1986 on the River Almozora fed from the Sierra de Los Filabres in the east of Almeria province. Due to low rainfall it receives 50 hm3 per year transferred by pipeline from the Negratín-Almanzora basin and 15 hm3 per year transferred by pipeline from the Tagus-Segura basin. It also receives water from the desalination plants of Cuevas del Almanzora and Carboneras. The reservoir supplies drinking water to the towns of eastern Almeria; Bédar, Carboneras, Los Gallardos, Garrucha, Mojácar, Turre, Vera, Albox, Cuevas del Almanzora and Huércal-Overa. Wikipedia
Volume of water in the reservoir groups of the Andalucia Mediterranean Basin on 1st October each year, the first day of the hydrological year, traditionaly a low point after the summer and before the winter rains. The total full capacity is 1.177 hm3. We group together reservoirs that 'work together' to supply a district. Figures presented in hm3 since % are misleading due to differing size of the reserviors.
| 1st October hm3 |
Guadarranque Charco Redondo (Campo Gibraltar) |
La Concepcion (Costa del Sol) |
Guadalhorce Guadalteba (Malaga) |
La Vinuela (La Axarquia) |
Beznar Rules (Granada) |
Beninar (Almeria W) |
Cuevas del Almanzora (Almeria E) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 169 | 62 | 394 | 165 | 164 | 62 | 161 |
| 2011 | 136 | 41 | 328 | 149 | 128 | 14 | 11 |
| 2012 | 83 | 24 | 261 | 119 | 108 | 7 | 47 |
| 2013 | 138 | 43 | 348 | 142 | 130 | 11 | 27 |
| 2014 | 119 | 19 | 279 | 112 | 121 | 4 | 24 |
| 2015 | 78 | 36 | 278 | 149 | 101 | 2 | 27 |
| 2016 | 55 | 38 | 159 | 56 | 91 | 5 | 10 |
| 2017 | 81 | 38 | 155 | 43 | 77 | 6 | 13 |
| 2018 | 123 | 41 | 273 | 58 | 145 | 11 | 11 |
| 2019 | 88 | 23 | 268 | 54 | 132 | 9 | 24 |
| 2020 | 47 | 41 | 244 | 48 | 120 | 5 | 23 |
| 2021 | 56 | 35 | 181 | 31 | 117 | 6 | 8 |
| 2022 | 66 | 34 | 189 | 27 | 106 | 11 | 7 |
| 2023 | 46 | 23 | 103 | 16 | 69 | 6 | 4 |
| 2024-04-09 | 72 | 40 | 104 | 13 | 94 | 7 | 8 |
Source Reserva de embalses de Andalucía (Datos históricos) Live date of Andalucia Reserviors
Drought
Drought: A non-predictable natural phenomenon that occurs mainly due to a lack of rainfall resulting in a significant temporary decrease in available water resources.
One must differentiate the natural phenomenon of drought from a water shortage, which is the problem associated with the deficit of meeting the demands of a water supply.
Water Shortage
To understand the severity of the water shortage and the consequences to residents and tourist one must appreciate that there is extensive variation between towns and districts.
The two principal water basins of Andalucia are the inland Guadalguivir and the coastal Mediterranean. The latter formally known as the DHCMA (Demarcación Hidrográfica de las Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas) or Andalucia Mediterranean Basin for short. We continue this investigation with the Andalucia Mediterranean Basin.
Water Shortage (Andalucia Mediterranean Basin)
Andalucia Mediterranean Basin covers the area which rainfall will flow into the Mediterranean. It is 18.000 square km and includes Campo de Gibraltar, most of Malaga province including the Costa del Sol, the southern third of Granada province and most of Almeria province. Rainfall varies considerbly from 2,000 mm per year in the Guadiaro river valley in the west to 100 mm per year in parts of Almeria in the east.
Throughout its history, the Andalucia Mediterranean Basin has suffered important periods of drought, the most recent and intense being those corresponding to hydrological years (1st October to 30 September) 1984/85 and 1985/86, 1990/91 to 1994/95, 2004/05 to 2006/07, 2011/12 to 2016/17.
The Andalucia Mediterranean Basin is officially divided into districts which are called systems and sub-systems. they are listed in the table below. Naturally water catchments do not exactly correspond to municipal districts, we describe the areas as best as possible.
| System / Sub-System - reference & title | Description | Reserviors |
|---|---|---|
| Serrania de Ronda | ||
| I-1 Rio Guadaranque and Rio Palmones | Campo de Gibraltar - Algeciras, Los Barios, La Linea, San Roque, Castillar | Guadarranque Charco Redondo |
| I-2 Rio Guadiaro [Sotogrande] | Guadiaro / Hozgarganta, / Genal River valleys - Sotogrande, Guadiaro, Jimena, Cortes, Gaucin, Jubrique, Genalquacil |
- |
| I-3 Rivers between Guadiaro and Guadalhorce | (Mancomunidad of Costa del Sol west - Manilva, Casares, estepona, Benahavis, Marbella, Istan, Ojen, Mijas, Fuengirola, Benalmadena, Torremolinsos. |
La Concepcion |
| I-4 Rio Guadalhorce and Rio Guadalmedina [Malaga city] | Malaga City & Guadalhorce, Grande and Rio Guadalmedina valleys | Guadalhorce Guadalteba |
| I-5 Fuente de Piedra | Fuente de Piedra laguna | |
| Sierra Tejeda-Almijara | ||
| II-1 Rio Velez and rivers up to Rio de la Miel. | Rincon, Velez-Malaga, coastal and inland villages of La Axarquia | Viñuela |
| II-2 Polje de Zafarra | Polje de Zafarra | - |
| Sierra Nevada | ||
| III-1 Rivers between Rio de la Miel and Rio Guadalfeo | Costa Tropical west la Herradura, Almñecar, Salobreña |
- |
| III-2 Rio Guadalfeo [Costa Tropical] | Motril and Rio Guadalfeo, Las Alpujaras and Rio Izbor, Lecrin Valley | Beznar & Rules |
| III-3 Rivers between Rio Guadalfeo and Rio Adra | Costa Tropical east, Calahonda, Albuñol Castel de Ferro and Albuñol | - |
| III-4 Rio Adra and Campo de Dalías | Costa Almeria west from Adra to Roquetas del Mar and Aquadulce | Beninar |
| Sierra de Gador - Filabres | ||
| IV-1 Rio Andarax | Almeria city and River Andrax & Nacimiento valleys. | - |
| IV-2 Campo de Nijar | Nijar village, Campo de Nijar and Cabo de Gata, Carbonaras | - |
| Sierra de Filabres-Estancias | Mojacar, Garucha, Vera and Sierra de Filabres-Estancias | - |
| Cuenca de Almanzora | Almeria east Pulpi and Almanzora river valley | Almanzora |
 Systems and Sub-systems of Andalucia Mediterranean Basin |
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Source : Plan Hidrológico de la demarcación hidrográfica de las Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas 2022-2027
Rainfall (Andalucia Mediterranean Basin)
Over the historical benchmark period from 1940/41 to 2017/18 the average annual rainfall in the Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas is 547 mm. This equates to 9.833 hm3 of rainfall which after evaporation is a contribution of 3.027 hm3). It oscillates between 1.067 mm in wettest year to 231 mm in the driest year.
In the more recent historical benchmark period from 1980/18 to 2017/18 the average annual rainfall is 528 mm. This equates to 9.486 hm3 of rainfall which after evaporation is a contribution of 2.819 hm3. This recent period is is about 3.5% less than the historic period. The monthly distribution varies from 2 mm average in July to 82mm in December. The Sierra de Grazalema is the wettest at 1.650 mm average per year and Cabo de Gata is the driest at 140 mm average per year.
One of the indicators used to monitor droughts is the Standardised Rainfall Drought Index (SPDI). Índice Estandarizado de Sequía Pluviométrica (IESP). Monthly monitoring is necessary because a "normal year" - with total rainfall similar to the average for the reference period - is sometimes not very representative of the environment, given that the inter-annual variability of rainfall is very high, and can lead to a disorderly alternation between rainy or very dry years and months. The analysis of these successive rainy and dry months allows the identification of the dry periods.
There is published a monthly series since 1951 and for clarity a monthly series since 2013. The wetter than average months can be seen above the horizontal line and the drier than average months can be seen below the line. This shows that for Andalucia since 2018 every month has been below average rainfall.
Contribution to the Water Supply (Andalucia Mediterranean Basin)
Underground water masses
67 underground water masses have been identified ranging in size from 4 km2 to 1.036 km2 in area. The natural groundwater resources correspond to the recharge values for these groundwater bodies.
Of the average rainfall of 547 mm on the land area of Demarcación Hidrográfica de las Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas on average 381 mm will be 'lost' through evaporation. Using the SIMA model, modified for actual conditions, an average of 81 mm per year will recharge the aquifers. Underground water resources contribute an average of 1,328.8 hm³/year to the Mediterranean water supply.
Ground water runoff into Surface water - rivers and lakes
Surface water is classified in different types; Rivers - there are 2.211 km in Demarcación Hidrográfica de las Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas), Lakes - there are 25 of which 14 are reservoirs, the total surface area is 74 km2, Estuaries - there are 15 km2 of estuaries, Coastal waters in bays and included within the domain of DHCMA although this saltwater resource has limited use.
The average annual runoff from rainfall on land in the Demarcación Hidrográfica de las Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas basin into the rivers and lakes is 166 mm of rainfall or 2,997 hm3 volume of water. This is an average from a historical period from 1940/41 to 2017/18, and slightly less at 2,834 hm³/year in a more recent period from 1980/18 to 2017/18. This is a five percent reduction in runoff between the two periods. This trend is repeated in each of the DHCMA systems and subsystems.
Desalination of Seawater
The following plants are constructed. The table below shows their capacity, status and use in 2022. The reverse osmosis process consumes electricity (4.5 kWh per m3.) and the approximate cost of the water produced is 0.80€ m3.
| Location | Capacity (hm3 / year) | State | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marbella | 20* | In Service | Drinking water |
| El Ejido | 35 | In Service | Drinking water & Irrigation |
| Almeria | 20 | In Service | Drinking water |
| Almeria (Alberan) | 22 | Rehabilitation | Irrigation |
| Carboneras | 42 | In Service | Drinking water & Irrigation |
| Cuevas del Almanzora | 20 | Rehabilitation | Drinking water & Irrigation |
| Malaga city (El Atabal) | 60 | In Service | Drinking water |
*Source 'Plan Hidrológico de las Cuencas Mediterráneas 2022-2027' Anejo VI p62
Desalination Plants in Andalucia
Recycled Water
Recycled water is also called reused water, reclaimed water and grey water. Recycled water helps satisfy part of the water demand, specifically for uses such as street cleaning, watering municipal gardens, watering golf courses and more recently for irrigation of crops.
Waste Water reuse in the Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas grew steadily from zero at the beginning of the 1990s to 21 hm3 in 2005. Since then, little progress had been made. In 2022 this totaled 23.4 hm3.
Golf Courses using recycled water.
Since 2010, under Andalucia Decree 2008/143, it has been a requirement for all golf clubs to 100% irrigate their courses from recycled water. "Today we can state that 80% of golf course irrigation is carried out with recycled water" says Pablo Mansilla, president of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation. This statement appears to be based on a study carried out by the University of Malaga in 2017 which found that 81 % of the golf courses on the Costa del Sol use reclaimed water for irrigation. The courses that do not use reclaimed water, do not because they have not been piped up to it by the water companies such as ACOSOL.
The regulations are clear: according to Decree 43/2008 of the Regional Government, golf courses must be irrigated with reused water. However, studies carried out, including by the Spanish Association of Golf Courses (AECG), show that this is not being complied with. According to the AECG report, 38.5% of courses with 18 holes or more are irrigated with "other sources", neither desalinated water nor reclaimed water. 9 hole courses were 22.6 %. These "other sources" are in most cases underground wells or surface water resources such as small streams within or next to the courses. Many course have constructed dams to create water features which are also irrigation reservoirs. So whilst the 'other sources' are not strictly compliant with the decree it is unlikely that this river water would have been collected for drinking water - more likely that it would be runoff into the sea.
Since the early 2000s the capacity for recycled water has increased. The distribution network pipes, pumping stations and storage tanks is for irrigation of golf courses and gardens from the Arroyo de la Miel, Cerros del Águila and La Víbora plants and with the extension of the Guadalmansa wastewater treatment plant in Estepona. On the Eastern Costa del Sol, where the waste water treatment plants of Guadalhorce, Rincón de la Victoria, Vélez-Málaga and Torrox now have tertiary systems. On the Costa Tropical the reuse of reclaimed water at the Almuñécar waste water treatment plan for irrigation of crops at Río Verde de Jete and Almuñécar, and Pozo de San Andrés. In western Almeria, with the start-up of the El Ejido waste water treatment plant for the irrigation of green areas in El Ejido and in a second phase, for the neighbourhood of Almerimar and its golf course. The Bajo Andarax with the extension of the El Bobar waste water treatment plant, which should irrigate 3,200 hectares of crops. In the eastern Almeria the Vera waste water treatment plant to supply the town and the golf course.
Transfers from other Basins
The first transfers were established in 1971 from Tajo basin to the Demarcación Hidrográfica de las Cuencas Mediterráneas Andaluzas' predecesor through the Tajo-Seguro aquaduct for storage and irrigation. Only 11 hm3 has ever been transferred under an agreement for up to 27 hm3 per year. The second transfer agreement was from the Guadaquivir basin through the Negratin-Almanzora aquaduct to the El Saltador purification at the Cuevas de Almanzora reserviour or directly to irrigation under a 50 hm3 per year agreement. Only about 10 hm3 per year has been transferred. The city or Algeciras receives water from the neighbouring Bujeo system in the Guadalete Barbate basin.
On the other hand 34 hm3 is transferred from Rio Guadiaro through the Guadalete-Majaceite aquaduct for the industry of Cadiz under a 110 hm3 agreement.
Since late 2023 the main ports of Andalucia (Algeciras, Malaga, Carboneras, Almeria) are being equipped with pumps and pipelines to receive fresh water by ocean tanker ships should this be needed in the Summer 2024. Andalucia regional Government has an agreement with the Cartagena desalination plant in Murcia region which is only supplying Murcia a fraction of its 20 hm3 per year Capacity. Following the rainfall of Easter 2024 it was announced that the shipping of water would not be needed in summer 2024 but the preparation works would continue.
Total Water Supply (Andalucia Mediterranean Basin)
The total water resourses for the Andalucia Mediterranean Basin are estimated at 1.151 hm3 per year according to 'Plan Hidrológico de las Cuencas Mediterráneas 2022-2027 published by Junta de Andalucia. Memoria report and Anejo II: Inventario de recursos hídricos.
This is sumated from 1.050 hm3 for conventional water sourses (below and above ground water), 77 hm3 desalinated marine water, 23 hm3 recycled urban effluent water and 39 hm3 in transfers from other water basins.
Water Use and demand (Andalucia Mediterranean Basin)
Water uses are the varied uses, as well as any activity that has a significant impact on water status. These uses include domestic and urban (institutional, commercial and industrial uses connected to urban networks), irrigation and agricultural uses, production of electricity, aquaculture, tourism and recreational uses.
Demands associated with uses in the Andalucia Mediterranean Basin is 1,325 hm3per year (2022) The main use served is irrigation with a total demand of 908.6 hm3 per year, 69% of the total water demand, for a total irrigated surface area of 171,916 hectares. The drinking water demand served through the urban networks is 356.8 hm3 per year, 27% of the total, serving an equivalent of 3,219,659 inhabitants. The golf courses have an annual demand of 30 hm3, Industry's demand is 25 hm3 per year, livestock farming hm3 per year.
| System / Demand hm3 | Urban | Irrigation | Livestock | Golf | Industry | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serrania de Ronda | 226 | 249 | 2 | 25 | 21 | 523 |
| Sierra Tejeda-Almijara | 24 | 84 | .2 | 1 | 0 | 110 |
| Sierra Nevada | 56 | 352 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 413 |
| Sierra de Gador - Filabres | 27 | 112 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 140 |
| Sierra de Filabres-Estancias | 22 | 110 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 133 |
| Total | 375 | 909 | 4 | 30 | 25 | 1.324 |
Source 'Plan Hidrológico de las Cuencas Mediterráneas 2022-2027
Conclusion (Andalucia Mediterranean Basin)
The Plan Hidrológico de las Cuencas Mediterráneas 2022-2027 concluded that the annual demand is 1,325 hm3 and the annual supply is 1,151 hm3, based on average historical rainfall and not on a drought scenario. This is a clear shortfall of 174 hm3. It was suggested that this shortfall would be made up through infrastructure improvements over the course of the plan.
However, only a fraction of the infrastructure improvements proposed in the previous 2015 - 2021 plan have been implemented. It seems that we should be pleased that the water shortage is severe, as it has brought the issue to the fore and both short and long term projects are planned or underway. Probably the most significant improvement will be the construction of tertiary systems at wastewater treatment plants to produce recycled water for irrigation and reduce the need for reservoir water.
Further study
The current government's public focus is on getting through the summer of 2024 without further restrictions. The real question is whether reservoirs will be able to replenish sufficiently in the winter of 2024/5.
We are working with Chris Goldammer, a data scientist, who has parsed the historical reservoir levels and rainfall data from Rediam (Red de Información Ambiental de Andalucía) from the published PDF format into a more useful CSV file format downloaded and imported into Google sheets. for better analysis. This method is explained on his Githup page). Chris's model for predicting reservoir fill from rainfall data appears to be a reasonable fit. What is concerning is that a simulation with historic average rainfall shows a very slow refill of reservoirs. Clearly more work to be done. If you are interested in this project do contact us from the link at the bottom left of the page.
More information
Plan Especial Sequia - PES
The management of risks associated with droughts in Spain is carried out through the special action plans in situations of alert and possible drought - The Special Drought Plan (Plan Especial Sequia - PES).
The PES has to differentiate between drought situations, caused by a reduction in rainfall, and situations of scarcity, understood as a problem for meeting demand and, and therefore dependent on human activity. By means of the use of indicators and the definition of territorial management units, a diagnosis of the situation must be carried out to facilitate decision-making for the for the management of situations of prolonged drought and cyclical shortages.
It should not be forgotten that, with regard to the impact of climate change on the drought regime, it is predicted that, in general, droughts in the southern and south-eastern regions of the peninsula will become more frequent as the 21st century progresses, with the consequent increase in water scarcity due to the reduction of water resources.
In this context, the General Directorate of Water Infrastructures, as the promoting body, published the draft PES of the DHCMA in September 2020) which was approved on 4 May 2021, by the Governing Council, published in the BOJA on 7 May 2021.
However, the PES in force during the preparation of the third cycle Hydrological Plan is the previous one, approved in 2009. previous one, approved in 2009, and therefore, the present Hydrological Plan has been prepared in accordance with the global system of indicators and measures established in that document.
There are links to download the Plan Especial Sequia for each of the Andalucia water basin on our Source Documents for Water Supply research page.
Four special decree-laws
The Regional Government have also passes four special decree-laws with budgets actions against the drought. There are links to download them on our Source Documents for Water Supply research page.
Water Supply Utility Companies
If you take up residence or buy a property in Andalucia, amongst other services you will obviously need a water supply to your property. Information and lists about Water supply Utility Companies
Water Volume Conversions
Spain is one of the five countries in the European Union, along with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Italy, that consumes the most water per inhabitant. The average consumption in Spain is 142 litres per person per day and in Andalucia it is 129 litres. This is equivalent to 100 m3 per year for a two person household.
Andalucian households consume 1,000 million litres, or one million m3 or one hm3 of water per day.
1 hm3 can be supplied from a pipe running at 32 litres per second for a year
1 m3 is a cubic metre which is 1.000 litres.
1 hm3 is a cubic hectometre which is one million cubic metres. ie. One million blocks 1m by 1m by 1m or one block 100m by 100m by 100m
Rainfall: 10mm of rainfall is 10 litres of rainwater collected per square meter of land.
How many people does 1 hm3 of water supply?
1 hm3 of water would supply a town of about 15.000 resident population for one year.
This equates to 182 litres per resident per day. Other estimates are in the range of 10.000 to 20.000 and naturally would depend not just on the resident population but also the consumption from business, light industry, hotels and tourists.