Floods: Why Spain’s Exceptional Rains Don’t Resolve Long-Term Water Scarcity
Spain’s recent wave of exceptional rainfall has brought much-needed relief after years of drought. Reservoirs are filling and restrictions may ease. Yet this meteorological episode does not resolve the country’s structural water scarcity. As extreme rainfall events intensify under climate change, the challenge is not simply how much rain falls, but how water systems capture, manage, and store it. Spain’s experience illustrates a broader lesson: floods can relieve short-term pressure, but long-term resilience depends on infrastructure, governance, and investment in smarter water management.