The drought situation in Ibiza has become especially worrying after one of the driest Junes on record in the Balearic archipelago. The end of the month has confirmed not only the complete absence of rainfall, but also a significant decline in water reserves, dragging the island toward a pre-water alert stage. High temperatures and a lack of rainfall have put the resilience of the island's water resources to the test., which affects both the supply and the sustainability of the island in the short and medium term.
According to the latest data published by the Ministry of the Sea and the Water Cycle, Ibiza has seen its water reserves fall from 36% to 34% of capacity. during June. This percentage is clearly below the value from a year ago and confirms a downward trend affecting all the Balearic Islands, but is especially critical for Ibiza. Furthermore, The Ibiza Demand Unit has officially moved to a pre-alert state due to drought., joining the 98,4% of the Balearic territory that is already in the same situation.
The magnitude of the drought is not only evident in reserves, but also in meteorological records. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has indicated that June has been the driest month in the historical series since 1961. In Ibiza and Formentera, the average rainfall has been exactly 0,0 liters per square meter, when the normal range is around 15,3 l/m². This water deficit, combined with intense heat—with an average of 25,3°C and a positive anomaly of 3,3°C compared to normal values—has accentuated the evaporation of existing resources.
The overall index of the Hydrographic Demarcation in the Balearic Islands is 0,400, the same as a year ago, but significantly lower than in previous years (for example, in 2022 it was 0,503). These data reflect a negative evolution in drought indicators. and increasing pressure on island aquifers and reservoirs.
This pressure is not only felt on the surface. Underground, aquifers—on which much of the supply depends—are being drained. monitored by a pioneering project promoted by the Balearic Government and the public agency IB Digital. The objective: monitor both the level and salinity of groundwater in real time, implementing more than 250 connected sensors in wells across all the islands.
Water reserves and forecasts for the coming months
The short-term outlook suggests that the situation could worsen. in the absence of significant rainfall during July. According to official forecasts, water reserves will probably continue to decline, complicating the management of the water cycle, especially during periods of high tourist demand and in contexts of anomalously high temperatures.
The situation worsens if we take into account that The island of Formentera is the only one that, for now, maintains its Demand Unit in a normal situation, although its stability is fragile and could change rapidly if the lack of rain continues.
In the archipelago as a whole, nine Demand Units —including Ibiza— have seen their drought rates decline, while only Artà is experiencing a slight improvement. The widespread drought pre-alert means that most of the islands are living under restrictions or at least warnings regarding consumption and the level of available resources.
Technological innovation: advanced groundwater monitoring
The need to understand and manage water resources more efficiently has led to the implementation of innovative monitoring systems. in Ibiza and the rest of the Balearic Islands. The project, led by IB Digital and the Directorate General of Water Resources, is part of the "Smart Balearic Territory" program and is being developed in collaboration with the UIB's IoTIB Lab.
The first tests have begun in five wells located in areas with particularly serious problems, both in Ibiza as in MallorcaUntil now, groundwater measurements were carried out manually and with low frequency. This Digitalization will allow obtaining data practically in real time, detect critical situations such as marine intrusion or sudden drops in the water table earlier and, consequently, adopt preventive measures more efficiently.
This deployment, financed with European funds, will allow to analyze the reliability of different types of sensors and its adaptation to local conditions. In addition, another key aspect will be the opening of data to the public, so that any citizen can consult the status of the aquifers in their area and have greater awareness and participation in water management.
The challenges of water sustainability in Ibiza are evident in the face of the combination of extreme drought and high temperatures. Open access information, along with new monitoring techniques and citizen engagement, may be the key to strengthening the island's resilience in the face of a phenomenon that seems more pronounced and persistent each year.
