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Spain
Water consumed in Spain as a percentage of renewable fresh surface water and groundwater between April and September (2000-2019 average)
Development of renewable fresh surface water and groundwater
Rainfall, melted snow and inflow of fresh surface water and groundwater from neighbouring countries increase the stock of fresh surface water and groundwater in a country, whereas a part of the freshwater stock evaporates from open water surfaces and the soil or transpires from crops and other vegetation. The balance of these processes leads to the annual renewal of the fresh surface water and groundwater in a country.
Between 2000 and 2021, the volume of the renewable fresh surface water and groundwater in Spain was estimated at 100,754 million m3 on average. The lowest volume was observed in 2011 (55,572 million m3) and the highest in 2000 (183,837 million m3).
The average volume of renewable fresh surface water and groundwater during 2016-2021 was lower compared to 2000-2005.
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Taking into account the population of Spain, the average volume of renewable fresh surface water and groundwater is below the EU average between 2000 and 2021.
It is noted that climatic, landscape and geological characteristics may cause significant differences in the regional or local availability of fresh surface water and groundwater, compared to the country average.
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Development of abstraction from fresh surface water and groundwater
Society and economy depend largely on the abstraction of fresh surface water and groundwater from the environment to meet their needs.
Between 2000 and 2019, the total abstraction of fresh surface water and groundwater in Spain decreased from 36,455 to 30,359 million m3
The abstraction of fresh surface water decreased from 30,456 to 24,028 million m3
The abstraction of fresh groundwater increased from 5,989 to 6,331 million m3.
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Development of abstraction from fresh surface water and groundwater by each economic sector
Decreasing the abstraction of fresh surface water and groundwater from the environment can help to reduce the risk of water scarcity. It also helps to be better prepared against droughts and their potential consequences on society and economy.
Between 2000 and 2019, the total abstraction of fresh surface water and groundwater in Spain decreased.
The abstraction of fresh surface water and groundwater decreased in agriculture, electricity cooling, manufacturing, public water supply.
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Development of leakages and other water losses
Decreasing the leakages and other water losses (e.g. evaporation and transpiration) during water transport may help to reduce the water abstracted from the environment, save water for productive activities and lower the costs for water treatment and supply.
Between 2000 and 2021, leakages and other water losses during water transport in Spain decreased.
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Development of water scarcity
The annual level of water scarcity increased in Spain between 2000 and 2019, based on the water consumed in the country, as a percentage of the annual volume of renewable fresh surface water and groundwater.
Furthermore, the level of water scarcity of year 2000 was exceeded 10 times in 19 years.
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Note 1: The water consumed in the country, expressed as a percentage (%) of the annual volume of renewable fresh surface water and groundwater is an indicator for measuring water scarcity, which is known as Water Exploitation Index plus (WEI+). For further read see: “Water scarcity conditions in Europe (Water exploitation index plus)”.
Supply of reclaimed water, desalinated water or other non-freshwater resources
Increasing the supply of reclaimed water from urban waste water or desalinated water or other non-freshwater resources (e.g. brackish surface water and groundwater) may relieve the pressure on fresh surface water and groundwater, reduce water scarcity, and diversify the sources of water supply in the case of droughts2.
In Spain:
water is reclaimed from urban waste water
desalination takes place
other non-freshwater resources are used
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Note 2: However, it is noted that potential health risks and environmental impacts must be safely managed and tackled, taking into account EU and national legislation./di
Average price of key water services and recovery of their financial costs
The Water Framework Directive requires that EU Member States apply water-pricing policies, providing adequate incentives for efficient water use and, thus, contributing to the achievement of the Directive’s environmental objectives. Furthermore, water-pricing is a key instrument to arrive at an adequate contribution from the various water use sectors (disaggregated into at least households, agriculture and industry) to the recovery of the costs of the various water services.
Range of average prices for key water services (in € per m3 of water)3 and corresponding recovery rates for their financial cost (in % of total financial cost)
for all river basin districts in Spain in the 2nd RBMPs (2009-2015)
Drinking water and/or sanitation services | Agriculture, including irrigation | Industry and Energy | |
Average price per m3 of water | between €0.16 and €2.39 per m3 | between €0.01 and €0.90 per m3 | between €0.02 to €1.86 per m3 |
Recovery rate of financial costs | between 36 - 111% | between 22 - 94 % | between 5.3 - 97 % |
Note 3: It is noted that prices may differ between water services due to differences in the level of required treatment, the amount of energy use for transport, treatment and distribution of water, the type of water source and the distance from it, etc.