From Drought to the Brink of Overflow: Málaga’s Reservoirs Close in on 90% Capacity

A Province Transformed by Rain

In just over a year, Málaga has moved from worrying about running out of water to monitoring dams that are close to full. Reservoirs that recently showed cracked, dry shorelines are now holding close to their designed limits, reflecting one of the sharpest turnarounds in recent memory.

This transformation has been driven by repeated winter storms and sustained rainfall that arrived after several very dry years. For a province whose economy relies heavily on tourism, a growing urban population and irrigated crops, the sudden abundance of water brings both relief and a new set of questions about how to manage it wisely.

How Full Are Málaga’s Reservoirs Now?

By early February 2026, the main reservoir system that supplies Málaga province is operating at a high percentage of its total storage capacity. Levels have climbed dramatically compared with the lows seen during the height of the drought, when some dams were less than half full.

Larger inland reservoirs, such as those in the Guadalteba and Guadalhorce basins, have seen particularly strong recoveries as rain and runoff from their mountain catchments have surged. Smaller coastal reservoirs like La Concepción, along with others that support the metropolitan area, are also near their upper operating bands, and managers are carefully watching inflows day by day.

The amount of water added to the system in just a few weeks is roughly equivalent to what Málaga city and the Costa del Sol would use over the course of an entire year. That turnaround has turned talk of emergency imports and severe cuts into a more optimistic debate about how to consolidate this new position of strength.

From Scarcity to Safety Limits

The same storms that have refilled the reservoirs have also pushed some of them close to, or even beyond, their comfort zone. Once soils are saturated, almost all new rainwater runs quickly into rivers and then into the dams, leaving very little room for additional storage.

As a result, several of Málaga’s reservoirs have been ordered to release water in a controlled way to avoid overtopping. These pre‑emptive discharges create extra space for expected inflows and help protect communities downstream from sudden flood peaks.

For residents, this can feel contradictory: not long ago they were asked to save every drop, and now they see footage of spillways pouring water into already swollen rivers. Yet from an engineering perspective, these managed releases are essential to keep the dams within their safety margins and to avoid uncontrolled flooding if another major storm arrives.

Uneven Recovery Across the Province

Although the overall picture is positive, the improvement has not been identical everywhere. Western and inland catchments, which lie in the path of moist Atlantic air, have benefited the most, with some reservoirs approaching the highest levels seen in many years.

By contrast, some eastern areas such as Axarquía, where La Viñuela reservoir is a key source, have improved but still lag behind the provincial average. This matters because that region depends heavily on irrigation for subtropical crops like avocados and mangos, which suffered badly when the reservoir hit historically low levels.

Farmers in better‑supplied valleys can plan the coming season with greater confidence, while those in more vulnerable zones may still face tighter allocation rules. Water authorities are likely to restore irrigation quotas gradually, aiming to rebuild trust with growers while keeping a buffer against a possible return to dry conditions.

Climate Change and a New Hydrological Reality

The rapid swing from drought to near‑overflow is not just a weather story; it reflects a broader shift towards more frequent extremes. Warmer temperatures increase evaporation from reservoir surfaces and soils, while also intensifying rainfall events when storms do occur.

That combination means water systems must cope with both longer dry spells and sudden surges of runoff. Even reservoirs that are almost full today could be drawn down quickly if several hot, rain‑poor years arrive in a row, particularly when demand remains high.

For planners and engineers, the old idea of an “average year” is becoming less useful. Operating rules, infrastructure and emergency plans now have to be designed for sharp swings between scarcity and excess, rather than for slow, predictable changes from one season to the next.

What It Means for Residents and the Economy

For households and businesses along the Costa del Sol and in Málaga city, the fuller reservoirs have eased immediate worries about taps running dry. Current reserves are enough to secure at least one normal year of urban supply, and possibly several, if consumption is kept under control.

This breathing space allows authorities to ease the most severe emergency measures, such as the harshest restrictions or plans for shipping in water, while still encouraging efficient use. Hotels, restaurants and other tourism‑related businesses can also look ahead to the peak season with more confidence that water will not be a limiting factor.

Agriculture stands to benefit as well. With a more predictable supply from the main irrigation systems, farmers can invest in planting decisions and equipment upgrades, even as they are encouraged to adopt more efficient techniques and crop choices better suited to a variable climate.

Calls for Caution and Long‑Term Reform

Despite the reassuring reservoir levels, specialists and officials are keen to stress that this is not the time to relax. A few wet months cannot erase years of structural vulnerability or the long‑term risk posed by a warming, more erratic climate.

There is growing pressure to use this window of relative abundance to strengthen the whole water system. Priorities include reducing leaks in urban networks, increasing the reuse of treated wastewater, expanding desalination where appropriate and improving connections between different reservoir systems so that surplus in one area can help cover shortfalls in another.

If these investments and reforms are delayed, there is a danger that habits will drift back towards wasteful consumption just as the next dry spell begins. Turning today’s full reservoirs into lasting security will depend as much on governance and planning as on the amount of rain that falls in any given year.

A Paradox at the Heart of Málaga’s Water Story

The sight of nearly full reservoirs in Málaga tells a story that goes beyond a single rainy winter. It reveals a province caught between two extremes: from empty shorelines and emergency restrictions to roaring spillways and flood‑control operations.

Residents, farmers, engineers and tourism operators now face the same underlying challenge: how to transform this moment of abundance into long‑term resilience. The coming years will show whether Málaga can learn from both its drought and its downpours to build a water strategy that is robust enough for an increasingly unpredictable climate.