In recent years, the management and conservation of aquifers in Spain has become central to the environmental debate due to the significant impact of climate change , urban growth, and pressure on water resources. Various scientific reports and international organizations warn of the urgent need to take action to ensure the sustainability of these underground reservoirs, which are essential for water supply, agriculture, and the conservation of valuable ecosystems.
Aquifer degradation is a response to both accelerated urbanization and the variability and reduction of rainfall, which presents regions like Valencia, Andalusia, and Catalonia with the challenge of transforming their water management policies and territorial development. Current proposals focus on more precise, coordinated management adapted to the new climate reality.
The aquifer of the Plana de Valencia, in the spotlight
According to a recent study conducted by the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) and the Pablo de Olavide University of Seville , urban sprawl in the Plana de Valencia region has led to a significant reduction in the environmental value of its main aquifer system. The results indicate that, in just three decades, the urbanized area has grown by 70% , while dryland agricultural areas have experienced a decline of over 59% . This transformation of land use has resulted in a 9,2% decrease in environmental value between 1990 and 2018 , according to the Weighted Environmental Index (WEI).
Specialists from the Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering (IIAMA) emphasize the importance of the aquifer as a key element for the supply of drinking water , the maintenance of biodiversity, and the ecological balance of protected areas such as the Albufera Natural Park. The loss of aquifer recharge, along with the increased risk of flooding, is especially worrying after events such as the DANA storm of October 2024 , which left hundreds of victims in areas previously identified as vulnerable.
During the years 2000 to 2012, coinciding with the real estate boom, most of the growth was concentrated in infrastructure and urban developments, even in hydrologically sensitive areas such as the Turia River floodplain. Experts consider it urgent to incorporate climate resilience criteria and propose protecting agricultural soils, restoring floodplains, and promoting nature-based solutions as priority strategies.
The Doñana challenge: overexploitation and recovery policies
The Almonte-Marismas detrital aquifer , which feeds the Doñana ecosystem , remains under constant alert from national and international organizations, such as UNESCO . Despite a year of above-average rainfall, Andalusian authorities insist that "a single exceptional year is not enough to recover the aquifers" and that the problems of overexploitation, intensive agricultural use, and declining rainfall have persisted for more than two decades.
The Minister for Sustainability and the Environment has stressed the need for joint action between the Andalusian Regional Government and the central government , avoiding administrative delays and ensuring the effective delivery of aid to farmers. The protection plan has mobilized more than €1.400 billion for hydraulic works, the restoration of irrigation channels, and the purchase of strategic properties—vital measures for recovering underground water reserves and halting the park's degradation.
The inspection and closure of illegal wells is another line of work, essential to curbing uncontrolled extraction, although authorities acknowledge that the current situation is the result of years of lax policies. The ultimate goal is to prevent Doñana from being considered a vulnerable area, preserving its ecological richness and function for future generations.
New management strategies in Catalonia and the Segura basin
The Catalan Water Agency (ACA) has presented a significant modification to the Special Action Plan for Alert and Drought situations , which consists of dividing the Fluvià Muga aquifer management unit into two . This decision is based on evidence that, during recent droughts, the aquifer's behavior has been heterogeneous across different areas, necessitating differentiated management and more precise piezometric monitoring.
It is hoped that, with the creation of a specific unit for the Muga and another for the Fluvià rivers, future management measures will minimize the impact on agriculture , a sector particularly vulnerable to declines in aquifer recharge. The plan is currently in the public consultation phase, allowing for citizen participation and the submission of comments over several weeks.
In the Segura basin, the Hydrographic Confederation has declared the groundwater mass of Campo de Cartagena to be at risk of not achieving good chemical status, and has therefore begun the formation of a community of users and the publication of new ordinances, seeking to balance current water rights and guarantee both the quality and quantity of the resource.
Valencia as a benchmark for other Mediterranean regions
The approach adopted in Valencia has served as inspiration for other Mediterranean regions where urban and agricultural pressure on aquifers is equally critical. The methodology applied, based on the use of advanced environmental indicators and the integration of satellite data, allows for the replication of sustainable management models in areas such as the Andalusian coast, Doñana National Park, and the Alt Empordà region.
Currently, research teams are continuing to validate their results and developing new proposals to compare real-world environmental indicators, such as groundwater quality or variations in biodiversity, with calculated theoretical values. This work aims to strengthen the scientific basis for future decisions and for the adaptation of territories particularly vulnerable to the Mediterranean climate.
It is essential to comprehensively manage water resources and prioritize the protection of underground systems from urbanization, climate change, and overexploitation. Collaboration and innovation will be key to safeguarding the water and ecosystems on which the well-being of millions of people depends.