What are the current water restrictions on the Costa del Sol?

What are the current water restrictions on the Costa del Sol?

Updated  26 June 2025

The water shortage is classified as normal in the Western Costa del Sol, moderate in the Guadalhorce-Limonero system and severe in La Axarquía, and moderate or normal in other areas of the province of Málaga that do not use water from reservoirs.

The network of reservoirs in the province is currently (26 June)  at 60% of capacity with 364 cubic hectometres compared to   62% of capacity, with 377 cubic hectometres six weeks ago.  This is compared with 170 hm3 at this time last year. This demonstrates how the water companies are now using the reservoir water, refilled in the October and March rains, as last resort water with priority given to the range of other sources, and limiting distribution for agricultural use. The large infrastructure projects cited last year are progressing very slowly.  

The Drought Management Commission increased the water consumption limits at their last meeting on 7th May 2025 (Water shortage news).

In practice, this means that there are no general water restrictions on the Costa del Sol, as the water companies' supply limits are set at 250 litres per inhabitant per day on the western Costa del Sol and 225 in the city of Málaga, which is higher than current consumption.

Water restrictions were in place on the the eastern Costa del Sol and La Axarquia since 2022 and the Western Costa del Sol since October 2023. Almost all of the restriction have been removed following the rains over the winter of 2024/5.

The detail of the restrictions, which affect residents and tourists, are now set by the individual Town Halls in line overall limits directed by the Regional Government and their Drought Management Commission of the Andalucian Mediterranean Water Basin.

Four Municipal districs have supply restrictions

Only four Malaga province municipalities will experience significant supply limitations during summer 2025. These are Alameda, Fuente de Piedra, Humilladero, and Mollina.

Malaga city

Restrictions included in the by-law of 16 November 2023, which prohibited the use of water resources fit for human consumption for street washing; filling private swimming pools; watering gardens, public or private parks and golf courses; washing cars outside authorised establishments; ornamental fountains that do not have a closed water circuit, as well as public showers and pumps, are no longer in force in Malaga city.

Beach Showers

In Western Costa del Sol, Benalmadena (14-05-2025) has modified municipal by-laws to allow beach showers and foot-baths as long as they have water saving measures such as push button timed delivery. Malaga city plans to activate the showers on the beaches from 15 June 2025, coinciding with the start of the high season. Foot-baths have been operational since Easter 2025.

In Eastern Costa del Sol the beach showers in Rincón de la Victoria, Vélez-Málaga, Algarrobo and Torrox not operate in Summer 2025 only the foot-baths will be in service "as a measure to raise awareness". Nerja is likely to provide beach showers, it is due to decide at council meeting on 15th June 2025.

Refilling Swimming Pools on Costa del Sol

The filling (or topping up) of swimming pools with fresh water WAS permitted as an exception to the general restrictions for the summer season from 1st June to 30th September 2024. This exception was quietly extended on 10th October 2024 (by the Drought Management Commission) but remains dependent on each local authority permitting it and being assured that they can main their overall water consumption limits now set at 200-250 litres per person per day.

there are no swimming pool restriction on the Costa del Sol Summer 2025.

Swimming pools at hotels, campsites, sports clubs, health centres and public municipal pools are exempt and open.

We assume the following restrictions will continue in some towns:

• Washing cars [except in an approved car wash - non approved ones are closed].
• Ornamental fountains that do not have a closed water circuit.
• Use of public showers [e.g. on beaches].
• Any other non-essential use of water.

Watering of gardens, parks or green areas, both public and private, is restricted to a maximum number of days per week. Cleaning of paved areas is in some case restricted to pressure washers which use less water than hosepipes.

What are the current water restrictions on the Campo de Gibraltar?

Campo de Gibraltar which is the area to the west of Costa de Sol including Sotogrande, Guadiaro, San Roque, La Linea, Los Barios, Algeciras, Jimaea de la Frontera, Castella de la Frontera and San Martin de Tesrillo has similar restrictions to the western Costa del Sol.

The Drought Management Commission for the Mediterranean Bason on the 25th March 2025 increased the water consumption limits at their meeting on 25th March 2025 for the Campo de Gibraltar from 200 to 250 litres per inhabitant per day, increase from 4 to 8hm3 per year for agricultural use. (Water shortage news).

The drought committee for the Campo de Gibraltar was convenined on the 1 April 2025. ARCGISA, lifted all the restrictive measures in the eight municipalities and the agricultural and industrial sectors.

ARCGISA, the public water company in Campo de Gibraltar, had already announced on 18 March that it would stop reducing water pressure at night. This was a water saving measure that was effective in reducing leakage from the supply pipes, while having a marginal effect on most consumers. There were water presure reductions from 06.00 to 23.00 hrs and water cuts in many areas from 23.00 to 06.00 hrs.

Refilling Swimming Pools in Campo de Gibraltar

ARCGISA, lifted all the restrictive measures in the eight municipalities.

What is 160, 180, 200 or 225 litres per day per inhabitant?

Total drinking water consumption is limited to an average of 180 to 235 litres per day per inhabitant depending on area. This is not a limit on the water metered by each household or business. It is a limit on the total amount of drinking water that fills the town's large storage tanks, divided by the registered population. As a reference, the average person in Andalucia uses 129 litres of domestic drinking water per day. The higher consumption limits of 180 or 200 litres per inhabitant per day are set because this measurement has to include all the drinking water consumed by business, commerce, hotels, shops, offices and non-resident holiday homes. The regional government monitors this usage however statistics for each municiapl district have never been published.

As a result of these restrictions, municipal water companies are reducing the water pressure and turning off water in many areas between midnight and 06.00 hrs. Hotels and apartment blocks are generally unaffected as they have their own storage tanks which are replenished during the day. Individual houses without tanks and especially those on higher ground experience cuts and/or low pressure.

Read our detailed and updated water shortage news chronology.

For more information and the background principles of water supply and demand on the Costa del Sol and Andalucia, see our Water Supply in Andalucia page.