Andalusia faces increasingly frequent and prolonged droughts, which requires rethinking irrigation water management under criteria of efficiency, planning, and digitalization—especially in the Guadalquivir basin, where most Andalusian irrigation is concentrated. The document analyzes the institutional and legal framework, special drought plans, and a broad range of technical and digital solutions to help irrigation communities and farms reduce water use without losing economic viability.
Institutional framework and drought plans
The text outlines how the Water Framework Directive and the Spanish Water Act organize management by river basin districts, distinguishing between inter-regional basins—managed by river basin confederations—and internal basins under the authority of the Andalusian Regional Government. In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the Guadalquivir River Basin Authority play a key role in planning, regulation, and activation of drought contingency plans.
The Guadalquivir Special Drought Plan differentiates between prolonged drought (rainfall deficit) and temporary scarcity (short-term difficulty meeting demands), classifying scenarios as normal, pre-alert, alert, or emergency according to quantitative indices of precipitation and resource–demand balance. Each scenario triggers specific supply and demand management measures, detailed in action plans for territorial scarcity units, serving as a reference for irrigation communities.
Water use rights and their transfer
The document explains the difference between administrative authorizations and concessions for private water use, depending on the annual volume used and the location of the intake relative to the farm. These titles, which are temporary and transferable, are issued by the basin authority or regional administration and determine the conditions of action during scarcity events.
In drought conditions, temporary transfers of irrigation rights between irrigation communities become relevant. Envisaged under the Water Act as a flexible tool to optimize water use, these voluntary contracts—supervised by the Confederation—have become widespread in the Guadalquivir basin and allow significant water volumes to be mobilized between areas with different levels of availability.
Efficiency in irrigation communities and farms
At the community level, measures highlighted include infrastructure improvements (modernizing open channels into pressurized networks, building storage ponds) and management actions (preventive maintenance, optimized pumping, rotation-based networks) to reduce losses and adapt distribution during scarcity. Agronomically, shifting cropping patterns toward more water-efficient species and varieties, along with basin-specific technical guidelines, is recommended.
At farm level, the document focuses on designing efficient irrigation systems (well-sized drip or sprinkler systems), maintaining internal networks, storing and reusing water, and planning deficit irrigation according to crop sensitivity stages. Complementary agronomic practices include improving soil organic matter, using cover crops or mulching, selecting low-demand varieties, and adjusting sowing calendars to avoid peaks of water stress.
Digital tools against drought
A central part of the report focuses on digital solutions that help understand systems, plan distribution, and verify savings strategies. These include georeferenced crop inventories in GIS systems, satellite and drone-based remote sensing platforms, IoT sensor networks in soil, plants, and hydraulic systems, and digital meters and manometers for real-time leak detection and consumption control.
The document also highlights the use of public agroclimatic networks (RIA/SIAR), irrigation and fertigation scheduling apps, and advanced systems based on artificial intelligence and digital twins capable of predicting water demand and simulating distribution scenarios. These tools enable irrigation communities to design tailored recommendations for reduced allocations, coordinate deficit irrigation strategies, and enhance user transparency and cohesion during critical periods.
Proposals for irrigation communities
Finally, it is proposed that irrigation communities develop their own drought plans, aligned with official Special Drought Plans but adapted to their infrastructure, management systems, and cropping structures. These plans should define allocation criteria under scarcity scenarios, incorporate incentives for the most efficient irrigators, and include internal mechanisms for temporary rights transfers to mitigate the economic impact of water shortages. The gradual adoption of digital twins and predictive systems is identified as a promising pathway to simulate multiple availability scenarios and make more informed, consensus-based decisions under climate change conditions.
The document can be consulted here (in Spanish): SGW – Andalusia Drought Strategies.
