The rainfall that has fallen in Spain in recent weeks has served to recover somewhat the levels of the reservoirs throughout the Peninsula. However, they are not even close, strong enough to alleviate the problems of drought.
Do you want to know how the levels of the reservoirs have increased and the comparison with what we should have?
Total drought
The drought in Spain not seen since 1995 in which the reservoirs throughout Spain reached an average of 34%. This 2017 is going to close with reservations by 38,15%, after three consecutive weeks of flooding. These floods have helped the reservoirs to recover somewhat, but they do not alleviate the severe drought suffered by Spain.
The total volume of water stored in Spain today is 21.391 cubic hectometres. This amount is far from the average of the last ten years, which stands at 31.691 cubic hectometres.
The levels of the reservoirs were not so low since 1995, when they reached 34,71% capacity. The situation this time is especially striking in some northwestern basins, such as the Duero, which is at 31,38% (a level not seen for more than 30 years) or the Segura, which is at 14,11%, which is the most worrying. If you want to know more about the affected basins, you can consult the information on the drought situation in Spain.
Thanks to the recent rainfall, water levels have increased, especially in some areas of the northern peninsula that are in a very precarious situation. Some, such as the Eastern Cantabrian Sea, which is at 90,41%, the Western Cantabrian Sea, which is at 61,20%, and the Miño-Sil Sea, at 44,22%. If you'd like to learn about countries facing similar problems to ours, you can visit an article about the countries of the world that are fighting drought.
Stored water deficit
The data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment known today, last of 2017, reveal that the basins with the most water deficit continue to be those of the Segura, which is at 14,11%; the Júcar, at 25%; the Andalusian Mediterranean basin, at 30,58%; the Duero, at 31,38%; and the Guadalquivir, at 31,69%. The Segura basin is the most worrying and has not seen such low levels for more than ten years, when they reached 14,26%. The Júcar levels have also been very low, although they were also during the 2007 drought, reaching 20,02%. If you want to know more about how the drought affects the country, I invite you to read about the effects of the drought in Spain.
The basins of the Miño-Sil (50%), Galicia Costa (44,22), Duero (46,64), Tajo (31,38), Guadiana (37,40), Guadalete (44,04), Guadalquivir (38,82), the Andalusian Mediterranean basins (31,69), Ebro (30,58) and the inland basins of Catalonia (48,91) will also close the year with levels below 45,79%. If you are interested in knowing about the drought in different parts of the world, do not hesitate to read the article on Drought in Kenya and its impact.
As we know, the north of Spain is not so affected by the drought, since its levels are higher: Eastern Cantabrian, which will end the year with levels at 90,41; Western Cantabrian (61,20); the reservoirs of the Basque Country (80,95), and those of Tinto Odiel and Piedras (at 69).
If we make an overview of all the reservoirs in Spain, we find a percentage of 38,15% compared to last year, which closed the year with 51,1%. As we can see, every year the drought becomes more pronounced and becomes more dangerous, since desertification also increases.
Uses of reservoirs and rainfall
There are two types of uses that are given to reservoirs: those for consumptive use (those for supplying the population) and those for generating hydroelectric power (through waterfalls).
Consumptive use reservoirs They are 33,3% away from last year's figure of 58,1%. This data is alarming and reflects the urgent need to address What is drought and what effects does it produce? in the country.
On the other hand, the reservoirs used for hydroelectric power generation are at 49% capacity, compared to the average for the last five years of 62,2%. The recent rains have affected almost all of Spain, helping to raise reservoir levels, but according to forecasts, they will not be enough to alleviate the drought problems, which will increase come summer, as detailed in the article on AEMET and the new storms. Also, you can find out about ecosystems and their recovery after a drought.
