The Environment ministry has released the latest figures on the state of the countries water reserves showing Spain's reservoirs at 50.8 per cent of their total capacity. Andalucia's water reserves however are presently at only 33.5 per cent of their capacity after what are officially 45 months of drought, that is July was the forty fifth month with below average rainfall for the region. The hydrological year is measured from October 1st to September 30th each year and this year has been characterised by a dry autumn and winter, the seasons which usually have most rainfall, and a wet spring, especially in the west of the region.
The region is divided into three basins: the Guadalquivir basin- which covers part of Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla, Jaen and part of Huelva; the Atlantic basin- which provides for the rest of Huelva and Cadiz and the Mediterranean basin– providing water to Malaga, Cadiz, Granada and Almeria. These three hydrographical areas currently store a total of 3,538 cubic hectometres (one hectometre is one million litres) and in the first week of July the water levels went down by 122 cubic hectometres, 1.2 percent of their total. The only reason they are at their present levels is the heavy rain we experienced at the beginning of April this year which allowed the dams to retain enough water to ensure supplies for a year.
The drought is classified as extreme, 48 months with below average monthly rainfall, in the provinces of Almeria, Cadiz, Malaga, Granada, and Jaen. There have been restrictions on the amount of water made available to farmers in various parts of Andalucia although few urban areas have faced such measures, Malaga capital being a notable exception with various restrictions on water use.
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