Briefing
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) published an analysis of groundwater abstraction in Spain on 17 September 2026. The study identifies six aquifers showing signs of sustained overuse and abstraction without sufficient authorisation: Almonte-Marismas around the National Park Doñana, the Alto Guadiana including the wetlands of Tablas de Daimiel, Los Arenales in Castile and León, Campo de Cartagena at the Mar Menor, the area of Baza in the province of Granada, and a south-eastern section of the Segura river basin.
WWF cites a total of more than 80,000 hectares of irrigated land where there is evidence of irregular groundwater abstraction; more than 39,000 hectares in Alto Guadiana are suspected. The organisation identifies the conversion of traditional dry-farmed crops into industrial-scale, intensively irrigated farmland as a key driver. The report cites falling groundwater levels, threats to protected wetlands such as Doñana and Tablas de Daimiel, and growing conflicts over use between nature conservation, agriculture and tourism as consequences.
Responsibility for permits and monitoring of abstraction lies with the relevant Confederación Hidrográfica for each river basin; protected areas and restoration programmes fall under the remit of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition (MITECO) and the autonomous communities. WWF calls for systematic inspections, comprehensive measurement of abstraction volumes, the closure of illegal wells and the provisional suspension of new permits in endangered groundwater bodies. Regional administrations stress the economic importance of irrigated agriculture and announce coordinated measures with the water authorities.
The findings presented broadly correspond with MITECO’s classifications of groundwater bodies at risk, but do not allow for any blanket criminal or administrative assessment: whether investigations or penalties follow depends on further findings by the authorities and courts. The authors say one thing is clear: without effective oversight and adjustments to irrigation to reflect available resources, aquifers and neighbouring protected areas risk lasting damage.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).