From Severe Drought to Two Years of Water Supply: A Wake-Up Call for Costa del Sol

Just a year ago, the situation in eastern Costa del Sol was dire. La Viñuela reservoir, the main water source for many communities, was at a record-low level. Authorities had to install a floating pump system just to extract the last available reserves. The water crisis was real.

Restrictions were already being put in place: empty swimming pools, golf courses left without water, and farmers struggling to keep their crops alive. If the situation had continued, running water in homes would have been severely limited, if available at all. And yet, people still don’t seem to grasp the severity of what almost happened.

Costa del Sol’s vital rainfall brings a two-year water supply — a wake-up call we all needed.

Fast forward to today. After two weeks of heavy rain, La Viñuela now has enough water to supply homes for the next two years. But instead of celebrating, many are complaining about the rain. The same people who would have suffered massive consequences if the drought had persisted are now upset about a few weeks of wet weather. It’s mind-boggling.

Let’s be clear: without rain, there is no water. There is no drinking water, no irrigation for farmers, no way to sustain the local ecosystem. Last spring, water restrictions were tightening, and the government was preparing for drastic measures. Pools were going to be emptied. The golf courses, many of which already use regenerated water, were at risk of complete shutdown. Agriculture, the backbone of the local economy, was on the verge of collapse. And yet, here we are, with people frustrated about some much-needed rainfall.

And if people don’t care about the golfers, fine. But let’s get the facts straight. According to the recent study conducted by Instituto Empresa, one of the most prestigious business schools in Europe, the golf industry generates hundreds of thousands of jobs in Spain. Every year, 1.4 million traveling golfers visit the country. And 8.9 out of every 10 euros they spend goes into other sectors such as hotels, restaurants, and transportation. Of those golfers, 400,000 own property here. This isn’t just about golf courses or some rich people playing 18 holes of golf, it’s about an industry that sustains jobs and drives the Spanish economy.

If you don't care about golf courses or golfers, fine. But do you care about people and families, their kids, and their well-being?

This is a wake-up call

Instead of complaining, people should be grateful. The sun is coming back this weekend, and soon, it will be spring and summer with all the sunshine anyone could ask for. But without these past weeks of rain, we wouldn’t be looking at a two-year water supply, we’d be facing another year of crisis.

So, to those complaining about the rain: please, open your eyes. Be happy it rained.

Because without water, we’d have nothing left.

Without this rain, Costa del Sol would still face a water crisis — let’s be grateful for nature’s help.