The Segura River Basin Authority (CHS) has declared the hydrological year 2025-2026 finished with a total of 567,119 cubic hectometers of water stored in the demarcation as of September 29, which is equivalent to 50% of the global capacity of its reservoirs. A year earlier, on the same date, only 188,576 cubic hectometers were reached, 17% of the maximum volume.
In this way, the water stored at the end of the current fiscal year practically triples that existing at the end of the previous hydrological year. The period has been characterized by a marked contrast between the lack of resources in the first months and the notable recovery recorded starting in February. Overall, the year-on-year contribution of the last 365 days stands at 636,882 cubic hectometers, according to data provided by the CHS.
The major turning point occurred in February 2026, a month in which 256.73 cubic hectometers of contributions were recorded, the highest monthly record since 1980 and the third highest in the entire historical series. Additionally, on February 5, 34.33 cubic hectometers were added in a single day, the maximum daily amount since records began in October 1982.
The hydrological year started with significant restrictions on irrigation. The September 2025 Reservoir Commission had set a joint limitation of 27%, which was increased to 40% in December due to the negative evolution of contributions. At that time, the basin barely had 52 cubic hectometers of available resources.
The abundant water inflows in February completely changed this scenario. The reserves went from 127.45 cubic hectometers at the beginning of the month to 323.23 cubic hectometers on February 27. On that same day, the Reservoir Commission decided to lift the restrictions on irrigation and raise the discharge target to 403,135 cubic hectometers.
At the end of September, of the 527,294 cubic hectometers accumulated in the main reservoirs of the system, 248,898 cubic hectometers corresponded to the basin's own resources and 278,396 cubic hectometers came from the transfer.
The final stretch of the hydrological year has been conditioned by the high summer temperatures and the increased irrigation needs. The total discharge has been around cubic hectometers, about 50 cubic hectometers above the target set in February.
The CHS emphasizes that this increase has not implied concession breaches, since during February and March the precipitation reduced the need to make use of water rights, which allowed reserving part of those volumes to be able to meet the greater demand recorded during the summer campaign.