Water consumption  
in Barcelona
Use and usages of water resources
2025 Barcelona Cicle de 
l’Aigua 
Department of Planning 
and Innovation 
Urban Services and 
Maintenance of Public 
Space
Water consumption in Barcelona Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua Photographs by: Table of Contents
Use and usages of water Department of Planning and Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua
resources Innovation Imatges Barcelona Introductory note 5
2025 Urban Services and Maintenance Freepik
of Public Space Available resources, alternative resources and municipal government powers 7
1 The water within reach 8
Acer, 16 1.1 The available resources 9
08038 Barcelona 1.2  Harnessing alternative water resources 14
Tel.: 932 896 800 1.3  Municipal powers 16
www.bcasa.cat 1.4  C atalan government and Barcelona Metropolitan Area powers 17
Potable water consumptionin the city of Barcelona 21
2  Potable water consumption data 22
2.1 Allocated wholesale supply for the population 23
2.2 C onsumption of potable water 26
2.3 Domestic consumption of potable water 32
2.4 Commercial and industrial potable water consumption 35
2.5  Consumption of potable water by municipal services 36
Use of water by the municipal services 41
3  Municipal services consumption data 42
3.1 Municipal services’ total water consumption 43
3.2 Consumption of groundwater 46
3.2.1  Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space’s groundwater consumption 51
3.2.2  Consumption of groundwater for green spaces 54
3.3.3  Consumption of groundwater for street cleaning 59
3.3.4  Groundwater consumption for ornamental fountains and pools 60
3.3.5  Water consumption for sewer cleaning 61
Barcelona: Looking to the future 63
4  Water-saving and efficiency measures 64
4.1 The city’s commitments 65
4.1.1  Climate Plan 65
4.1.2  Barcelona Alternative Water Resources Plan 67
4.1.3  Heat Plan 69
4.2  C ulture of water sustainability 70
4.3  R esearch and innovation 72
4.4 T he Drought Protocol for Barcelona 74
4.5 Water balance for the city of Barcelona 78
4.6 Barcelona’s water footprint 80
4.7 Virtual water  82
4.7.1 What is virtual water? 82
4.7.2 How to reduce virtual water consumption  84
Visual summary 86
2 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 3
Introductory 
note
Cities and urban systems play a decisive role in the natural water cycle, in terms of both 
demand for water and the disposal of wastewater. This is because a concentration of people 
and activities in a limited area generates a level of demand that, in most cases, exceeds the 
resources available in the nearest ecosystems. For that reason, resources must be found 
further afield, and transport networks and infrastructures must be built to allow for sufficient 
volumes to be accumulated in order to guarantee the water supply and bring it to the places 
where it is consumed. 
In the biogeographical area of the Mediterranean, hydrological resources are precious, due 
to irregular rainfall and occasional periods of drought. It is therefore necessary to employ 
planning and management strategies and policies that, in accordance with sustainability 
principles, help to save water and use it responsibly, and make efficient use of all available 
resources (surface water, groundwater, regenerated water, rainwater and seawater). 
Barcelona’s commitment to these sustainable values has resulted in the implementation of 
a number of measures aimed at reducing water consumption, which have been especially 
significant in the municipal services and facilities sector. However, the role of city residents in 
this process also needs to be stressed, as overall and personal consumption has decreased 
significantly, which is a sign of the collective desire to use water more sustainably. Barcelona 
City Council’s goal is to continue to make progress in this area through active participation 
from all of the city’s social and economic sectors.
This report takes stock of Barcelona’s water consumption in recent years 
and shows how the demand from different sectors has evolved, especially 
within municipal services and departments.
4 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 5
Available resources,  
alternative resources 
and municipal 
government powers
Surface resources – water originating in rivers, regulated in 
reservoirs and purified at potable water treatment plants – 
are the main supply source for Barcelona city. However, the 
City Council’s goal is to replace the consumption of potable 
water with use of alternative water resources (groundwater, 
regenerated water, desalinated water and rainwater) for uses 
where this is possible in line with regulations. This section 
explores the current situation and focuses on this challenge, 
as well as examining municipal water management powers.
1.
Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 7
1 The water within reach 1.1 The available resources
Most of the Barcelona’s water supply comes from surface water, although in recent years 
there has been a significant increase in the use of other resources, including groundwater, 
regenerated water, desalinated seawater and, in the near future, rainwater.
Surface resources used for human supply come from the Ter and Llobregat rivers. Water 
from the Llobregat is controlled by the La Baells, La Llosa del Cavall and Sant Ponç reser-
voirs and purified at the Sant Joan Despí and Abrera plants before being introduced into the 
water supply. Water from the Ter, meanwhile, is obtained via the Sau-Susqueda-El Pasteral 
reservoir network, which is treated at the potable water treatment plants in the towns of 
Cardedeu, Llinars and La Roca del Vallès. Though these are the main treatment plants, there 
are ten smaller plants in the metropolitan area. The two networks are interconnected to form 
the Ter-Llobregat system, in order to ensure the distribution and final quality of the water. 
The water supply from these resources is managed jointly throughout the metropolitan area. 
For more information on the reservoirs that provide Barcelona’s water supply, please see the 
document “Reservoir management in Catalonia”.
8 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 9
Figure 1. Figure 2. 
River and reservoir network Evolution of the water level in the reservoirs of the Ter-Llobregat system
Source: Catalan Source: Barcelona 
Water Agency (ACA) 600
Metropolitan Area 
(AMB)
500
400
300
200
Catalan Ebro Internal basins 
Basin in Catalonia
1. Camarasa 1. Baells 100
2. Canelles 2. Darnius- Boadella
3. Escales 3. Foix
4. Guiaments 4. Llosa del Cavall
5. Oliana 5. Pasteral
6. Rialb 6. Riudecanyes 0
7. Riba-roja 7. Sant Ponç 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5
8. Talarn 8. Sau 98 8
1 19 19
8 98 99 99 99 99 99 00 00 00 00 00 01 01 01 01 01 02 02 02
9. Terradets 9. Susqueda 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
10. Siurana 
International Llobregat Ter Ter-Llobregat
1. Garonne
Underground resources used for non-drinking purposes are taken from the aquifers of the 
Table 1. Llobregat and Besòs deltas, as well as from the Barcelona Plain. The gradual abandonment 
Reservoirs that supply Barcelona of industrial wells in parts of the Plain and the Besòs delta has meant that the groundwater 
level has gradually risen. In some places it has almost returned to its natural levels, which 
Source: Catalan has led to problems in basements, car parks and public services, such as the metro system. 
Water Agency (ACA) Reservoir (basin) Maximum capacity (hm3)
This large volume of groundwater, managed by Barcelona City Council, 
River Ter
has become a source of water resources for municipal non-potable 
water needs. 
Sau (Vilanova de Sau) 165.26
Susqueda (Osor) 233.00 In terms of water reuse from the wastewater treatment plants, the Llobregat WWTP is cur-
rently carrying out the following treatment activities: nutrient removal, removal of suspended 
El Pasteral 2.00 matter through filtration, removal of salts through osmosis, oxygenation and salt reduction. The 
potential outflow of regenerated water from the WWTP is 3.25 m3/s, and the uses compatible 
with regenerated water are as follows: barrier against saltwater intrusion, environmental use 
River Llobregat
in the river, agricultural irrigation, maintenance of wetlands and industrial use. 
La Baells (Cercs) 109.43 The Llobregat desalination plant can fulfil and complement potable water demand, as the 
potential outflow of desalinated water is 60 hm3/year, with a potential treatment capacity of 
2 m3/second.
La Llosa del Cavall (Navès) 80.00
Work is currently being done to boost the collection and use of rainwater for urban services and 
Sant Ponç (Clariana de Cardener) 24.38 public facilities (watering green areas, green walls, green roofs, urban allotments and sports 
grounds, filling ornamental fountains, cleaning streets and refuse containers, supplying fire 
Specifically, in the internal basins that supply the Ter-Llobregat system, and in accordance stations, etc.); for residential use (supplying toilet cisterns, washing machines and swimming 
with the data provided by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), the evolution in the water pools and watering gardens and private allotments), and for industrial use (cleaning vehicles 
levels of the reservoirs since 1982 has been as follows: and industrial areas, filling water tanks for firefighting purposes, and so on). 
10 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 11
hm3
Figure 3. Rainwater represents an essential contribution to irrigate green spaces and supply the 
Evolution in the type of water resource used. groundwater, despite the irregular nature of the Mediterranean rain system. Therefore, its 
contribution varies from one year to the next. 
Source: Barcelona 350 Unlike previous years – which the Catalan Meteorological Service reports were some of the 
Metropolitan Area driest in the entire historical record, even the Fabra Observatory’s records – 2024 and 2025 
(AMB)
300 were rainy after three years of severe drought (2021-2023). The rainwater available for irri-
gation increased to 3,641 hm³ in 2024 and 3,300 hm³ in 2025. 
250
200 Figure 5. 
Evolution in precipitation available for watering in Barcelona Figure 5. Table 2.
150
5,00
100
4,50
50
4,00
0 3,3
0
3,50
2003 005
2 2007 009 011 3 5 7 9 1 3 5
2 2 201 201 201 201 202 202 202
3,00
Groundwater volume Desalinated water volume (ITAM) 2,50
Surface water volume Ter-Llobregat 2,00
1,50
Figure 4. 
Resource management to produce potable water, depending on the joint reserves of 1,00
the Ter-Llobregat network
0,50
Source: Catalan 0,00
Water Agency (ACA) 10 01 03 05 07 09 11 3
0 0 0 0 0 0 01 01
5 17 19 1 3 5
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 20 20 20
2 02 022 2
8 TER
6
REGENERATED
4
LLOBREGAT WELLS
2
DESALINATED 
0
100% 90% 80% 75% 65% 60% 50% 40% 35% 25% 20% 15% 5%
12 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 13
hm³
Production (m3/s)
hm3
1.2  Harnessing alternative water resources This Plan also analyses the characteristics and features of the various kinds of non-potable 
water, as well as the quality requirements for the different uses. It also lays the foundations 
for the creation of a future byelaw regulating the use of alternative water resources in the city. 
As regards the use of groundwater, there is currently a 109-km groundwater network ope-
rating in Barcelona, with 29 storage cisterns and 30 hydrants that draw water from aquifers.
In 2025, 899,000 m³ of water was consumed in municipal services, for the following uses: 
watering green areas, trees on the streets and planters, filling ornamental fountains, and 
cleaning streets, sewers and rainwater tanks. In addition, groundwater is subject to strict 
analytical monitoring and the established maintenance and disinfection protocols in order to 
guarantee its quality and safety. Meanwhile, the regenerated water network for supplying the 
city is 9.6 km long, 3.5 km of which are found in the city, and 6.1 km in El Prat del Llobregat.
Table 3. 
Analysis of available water resources in Barcelona
The aim of the 2020 Technical Plan for the Use of Alternative Water Resources (PLARHAB) Source:
TYPE OF RESOURCE VOLUME USED CONCESSION POTENTIAL 
is to gradually replace the consumption of potable water with the use of alternative water (1) According to data 
from the UPC-CSIC- (hm3/year) VOLUME VOLUME 
resources, with 7 main lines of action: IDAEA Updated (hm3/year) (hm3/year)
Groundwater Mass 
Balance (November 
2017).
Groundwater Available in 0.74 4.4 2-3 (1)
LA1. USE OF  LA5. USE OF  (2) According to TMB 
RAINWATER  data, and viability each extraction 
GROUNDWATER conditional on quality location:
FROM STREAMS study 0.35 5-8 (1)
• Water table 
(3) Available at the BCN Plain
WWTP based on the 
LA2. USE OF  LA6. SUDS. USE OF  
planned facilities • Water table 
REGENERATED WATER RAINWATER IN THE PUBLIC Besòs
SPACE (4) According to 
PLARHAB 2020 data
TMB 0.02 3.68 (2)
LA3. USE OF  LA7. DIRECT USE OF SEAWATER underground 
infrastructure 
GREY WATER depletion
LA4. USE OF  Regenerated 0 – 2.6 (3)
RAINWATER  water from 
FROM ROOFS the Llobregat 
WWTP
Rainwater Urban area 0 – 7.94 (4)
PLARHAB raises public awareness about more efficient use of 
water and publicises the work being done by the City Council, while Rieres de 0 0.57 (4)
establishing the necessary conditions to foster the replacement of Collserola 
potable water with alternative water resources. (streams)
14 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 15
1.3  Municipal powers 1.4  C atalan government and Barcelona Metropolitan Area powers
The Local Government Act gives local councils power over local water supplies. In many In accordance with the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, the Generalitat holds exclusive 
municipalities, such as Barcelona, the water supply outside the municipal boundaries is the authority in matters of water from drainage basins in Catalonia, as well as, if needed, the 
responsibility of the regional authority, while a group of municipalities or a company awarded adoption of extraordinary measures to guarantee the water supply. For that reason, the Gen-
a concession is responsible for supplying it to users. eralitat – through the Catalan Water Agency – drew up the Special Action Plan for Situations 
of Alert and Potential Drought, which was passed on 9 January 2020. 
Consequently, Barcelona City Council does not exercise this power directly, but it does take 
part in improving water management in a general sense or in the event of a drought, basically The Catalan Water Agency  (ACA) is a public body attached to the Catalan Ministry of Terri-
by reducing municipal consumption and running user-awareness campaigns. Together with tory and Sustainability. It is responsible for administering water and has full powers over the 
the regional government, the Generalitat, the City Council also acts as a health authority that whole water cycle in Catalonia’s internal basins. The ACA is responsible for the wholesale 
monitors the quality of potable water, through the Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB). water supply, which involves transporting water to municipal supply tanks, from which the 
retail water supply begins, meaning distribution to users in the municipality. The ACA also 
Furthermore, to plan for a water shortage situation, Barcelona City Council has its Drought has responsibility for checks, monitoring, inspection, planning and decision-making relating 
Protocol, part of the Municipal Civil Protection Plan, which details the changes to be applied to the distribution and assignation of water resources in the Ter-Llobregat network, as well 
in order to save as much water as possible, raise public awareness and adopt the measures as collaborating with local organisations.
required to manage water more efficiently.
In this context, it is the ACA’s task to declare the start or end of different states of drought 
(Alert, Exceptionality and Emergency) once their thresholds are reached. That way, it can 
Through the Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space activate the management measures associated with each of the aforementioned states.
department, Barcelona City Council is in charge of managing the In the city of Barcelona, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) has authority over the 
city’s alternative water resources, as well as reducing losses from the retail potable water supply, the wholesale sanitation system and water works. It exercises the 
potable water distribution system, in collaboration with the Barcelona role of overseeing the water distributor in its municipalities and has the authority to approve 
Metropolitan Area and the public-private company that distributes rates for municipal services.
the water and maintains the network, ABEMGCIA.
16 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 17
Table 4. 
Different administrations’ powers in terms of water planning and distribution
Government of Metropolitan Barcelona City 
Catalonia Area Council
Water planning
Wholesale supply
Retail supply *
Monitoring and inspection
Tariff approval
Actions in risk of drought
*Barcelona City Council delegates this responsibility to the AMB
18 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA
Potable water 
consumption 
in the city 
of Barcelona
This section provides data on potable water consumption 
in Barcelona in homes, in businesses, in industry and for 
municipal services, with a broad perspective that stretches 
from 1999 to the present day, thus capturing the evolution 
in consumption over recent decades. Within the sphere of 
municipal services, consumption by the Urban Services 
and Maintenance of Public Space department is analysed 
in particular detail.
2.
Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 21
2  Potable water 2.1 Allocated wholesale supply for the population
consumption data
Total potable water consumption in Barcelona in 2025 was marked by the transition towards Since the approval of the Special Action Plan for Situations of Alert and Potential Drought 
hydrological normality. After the restrictions from the drought early in the year, reserve levels (PES) in January 2020, the Catalan Water Agency has defined wholesale water allocations for 
were reached in May that enabled the drought in the region to be officially declared ended. each municipality, meaning the water available to a municipality to distribute to its inhabitants, 
This change, along with rainfall similar to 2024, made it possible for all restrictions from services, businesses, etc. This volume has various limits depending on the drought situation 
previous periods to be lifted in the second half of the year. and the population equivalent calculated for each municipality by the PES.
It is important to pay special attention to the concepts that describe the measures to regulate Therefore, it is important to distinguish between the concepts of resident population and 
the volumes of water available and consumed by the population. For that reason, the concepts equivalent population. The resident population is calculated according to data from the 
of allocation and of population equivalent have been introduced in the latest editions of this municipal register of residents, which is the administrative register where all residents of 
document. These concepts are especially important in order to understand the progressive the municipality are recorded. Population equivalent, on the other hand, takes into account 
nature of the measures set out in the PES, which combine demand management and resource other factors such as the seasonality of the population (winter/summer), tourism indicators 
management. Likewise, the series of data corresponding to the volumes of billed potable and the presence of industry in the municipality.
water and the monitoring of groundwater consumption, monitored since 1999, will continue.
In 2023, monitoring of the maximum allowed allocation and volumes ultimately supplied (real 
allocation) began, based on the population equivalent set by the PES for the municipality of 
Barcelona. In the state of alert in force throughout 2022, the allocation was limited to 250 
litres per inhabitant equivalent per day. Starting in February 2023, with the decree of excep-
tionality, the limit was lowered to 230 l/inhab. eq./day, and finally in February 2024, with the 
declaration of the state of emergency, it was further curtailed to 200 l /inhab. eq./day. 
These successive reductions meant that in February 2024, for example, Barcelona was only 
able to receive 20% less potable water than in December 2022. The hydrological situation 
began to improve in 2025 and the restrictions were gradually relaxed, first with a shift to the 
pre-alert stage and finally with the return to normality in May.
Thanks to the monitoring of these data, the alarm can be sounded when the municipality 
exceeds the maximum allowed volumes, and the actions needed to reverse the situation can 
be put in place. As illustrated in Figure 6, the city of Barcelona is under the established limit, 
and with the involvement of all sectors, it will continue to make collective efforts in order to 
carry on in this way.
22 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 23
Figure 6. 
Maximum allocation according to the PES  
and potable water allocation actually supplied in Barcelona Figure 6. Table 5.
Source: Catalan  260
Water Agency (ACA) 0
25
 250
 240
 230
 220
 210
 200
 190
 180
69
 170 1
 160
 150
 140
-22 -22 -22 -22 -23
r n p c r n-23 23 23 24 4
a a p- c- ar- n-2 p-24
c-2
4 25 25 25 25
m ju se de m ju se de m ju se de mar- - -
jun ep ec
-
s d
Real allocation (total wholesale for the city)
Max. allocation according to drought status in effect
Max. allocation Alert FALTA FOTO
Max. allocation Exceptionality
Max. allocation Pre-emergency
Max. allocation Emergency I
Max. allocation Emergency II
Max. allocation Emergency III
24 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 25
Allotment (l/hab eq · day)
2.2  Consumption of potable water Therefore, the recorded or revenue water indicates consumption of potable water by indi-
vidual users, activities and municipal services. In the current context of normality, the total 
consumption of potable water in the city has been 92.56 hm³, which is 1.75% higher than 
2024. This increase is found in all sectors – domestic, retail and industrial, and municipal 
services. Regarding municipal services, consumption of potable water rose by 1.15 hm³, a 
35% increase over 2024. It should be noted that the decreases in previous years were directly 
related to the restrictions caused by the drought.
To calculate the data on consumption per resident, the population information for the city 
of Barcelona published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) is taken into account. This 
is based on the municipal register. Thus, domestic consumption per resident inhabitant per 
day was 99.3 litres, which is still under the threshold of 100 litres per inhabitant per day.
As mentioned previously, domestic consumption of potable water can be calculated accord-
ing to the population equivalent. 
Volume of potable water billed in the domestic sector
Domestic potable water 
consumption per 99.3
l/inhab. eq./day
Once supplied to the municipality’s main water tanks, potable water is distributed to con- equivalent resident Population equivalent established in the 
ACA’s Special Drought Plan (PES, Agreement GOV/1/2020)
sumers through the retail network until reaching service connections, meaning until each 
point of use with its respective meter. However, not all water supplied to the municipality 
gets recorded by the end user’s meter, and this difference constitutes an efficiency indicator 
for water supply networks.
Volume of potable water billed in the domestic sector
The water left unrecorded, called non-revenue water, includes unauthorised consumption Domestic potable water 99.3
consumption per resident Resident population as of 1 January this year l/res./day
(fraud) and volumes not measured (imprecise measuring equipment), among other factors. According to information from the National Statistics 
The challenge faced by water resource management organisations is to reduce this indi- Institute – INE
cator. The figure below presents the monthly consumption of potable water by sector and 
non-revenue water, which, in 2025, is 14% of the potable water supplied to the municipality, 
which is lower than the European average of around 25%.
Figure 7. 
Water allocation supplied to the municipality of Barcelona 
according to sector and non-revenue water Figure 7. Table 6.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
ary ry h ril y e ly st er er er er
nu brua Marc Ap Ma
Ju
n Ju gu b b b b
Ja e Au
ptem to
Oc ve
m em
F e No Dec
S
Domestic Commercial and industrial Municipal services Non-revenue water
26 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 27
hm3
Potable water consumption in Barcelona 2025 (hm3) Reduction of potable water consumption according to sector, 1999/2025 (hm3)
92.5 19% 1999 2025 Saving
Water saving 
1999–2025
14%
Potable water consumption according to sector 2025 (hm3) Domestic 72.9 62.7
Domestic Industry and trade Municipal services
62.8 25.3 4.4 23%
Industry 33 25.3
and trade
67.8% 27.4% 4.8%
Domestic consumption of potable water per inhabitant equivalent 2025 (l/day)
48%
Services 8.5 4.4
99.3 treatment
PPooppuulaltaitoionn 11,5,50033,4,45511 11,7,70321,5,64479 131%5%
Notably, potable water consumption has decreased in all sectors since 1999. The 
total has fallen from 114.5 hm³ in 1999 to 92.6 hm³ in 2025, which is a 19% decrease 
in consumption, taking into account the 15.18% increase in population.
The domestic sector has seen a reduction of 14%, the industrial and retail sector 
23%, and municipal services, 48%, the biggest drop of all.
28 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 29
Figure 8. Figure 10. 
Evolution of potable water consumption in Barcelona Figure 8. Table 7. Evolution of potable water consumption per inhabitant per day Figure 10. Table 9.
125 230
225
120 220
215
115 210
205
110 200
195
105 190
185
100 180
175
,5695 92 170
165
90 160
155
4
85 150 ,
14
6
145
80 140
99 019 0 00
3 05 07 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5
1 2 2 20 20 20
0 012 20
1 012 20
1
20
1
20
2 02 022 2
Figure 9. Figure 11.  
Evolution of potable water consumption by sector Figure 9. Table 8. Evolution of monthly potable water consumption Figure 11. Table 10.
12
130
11
120
110 10
100
56 9
2,9
90
8
80
7
70
6
60
50 5
40 4
99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 ry ry h ril y e ly st r r r r
19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
e e e e
20 20 20 20 a a
nu bru Marc Ap Ma
Ju
n Ju gu mb tob b b
Ja Au te c m m
Fe ep O ov
e
ec
e
S N D
Domestic Commercial and industrial Municipal services Total potable water consumption 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025
30 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 31
hm3 hm3
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025
hm3 l / inhabitant·day
2.3 Domestic consumption of potable water Figure 13. 
Evolution of domestic potable water consumption  
per inhabitant per day Figure 13. Table 12.
150
145
140
135
130
125
120
115
110
105
9,3
0
100 9
95
Figure 12. 
Evolution of domestic potable water consumption 90
Figure 12. Table 11.
99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
80.000.000
78.000.000
76.000.000
74.000.000
72.000.000
70.000.000
68.000.000
66.000.000
65
64.000.000 3.6
2.7
6
6
62.000.000
60.000.000
99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 9 1 3 5
19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
1
20
2
20
2
20
2
32 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 33
m3
l / inhabitant·day
The EurEau report on water services governance indicators in Europe, updated with 2020 2.4 Commercial and industrial potable water consumption
data, reflects the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which included an increase in domestic 
consumption of water per person and per day. Nonetheless, it is clear that the level of public 
awareness is high in Barcelona’s population, as consumption is still lower than the Spanish 
and Catalan average as well as the average seen in many other major European cities (see 
the following figure). Barcelona is therefore one of the major cities where city residents are 
most aware of how to save water resources and use them properly.
Figure 14. 
Comparison of domestic consumption in Barcelona with that of other European  
countries and the Spanish average, 2020 (litres/inhabitant and day)
Source: These are Italy 220
the data available 
from other cities Portugal 204
published in the 2020 
EurEau report on the France 170
governance of water 
services in Europe. Greece 150
Croatia 150
Figure 15. 
Suiza 142 Evolution of commercial and industrial potable  
Swiss 140 water consumption Figure 15. Table 13.
Sweden 140
Norway 140 40.000.000
United Kingdom 139
Luxembourg 137
35.000.000
Spain 132
Ireland 130
Austria 129 30.000.000
Netherlands 127 26
8.3
Germany 126 5.3
4
2
25.000.000
Romania 119
Finland 119
Denmark 105 20.000.000
Slovenia 104
Bulgaria 99
15.000.000
Poland 99
1999
2001 003
2 2005
2007
2009
2011 3
201 2015 017 019
2 2 2021 3 5
202 202
Barcelona 99*
Belgium 95
Hungary 95
Czech Republic 89
Estonia 88
Slovakia 79
Malta 77
0 50 100 150 200 250
*2025 data 
For more information: 
• The governance of water services in Europe
34 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 35
m3 
2.5  Consumption of potable water by municipal services
Potable water consumption of the Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space 
department (SUMEP) (m3)
Green spaces (surface area: 528 Ha) Saving
1999 > 2,972,696 48%
2025 > 1,556,284
Ornamental fountains
Figure 16. 1999 > 1,174,333 90%
Evolution of potable water consumption by municipal services Figure 16. Table 14. 2025> 120,214
10.000.000
9.000.000 Street cleaning
8.000.000
1999 > 359,628 81%
2025 > 69,590
7.000.000
6.000.000
Sewer cleaning
585.000.000 4.6
4.4
4
4.000.000 1999 > 30,052 100%
2025  > 0
3.000.000
99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 7 9 1 3 5
19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 201 01 02
2 2 202 2
20
The significant increase in the consumption of groundwater has  
led to a decline in potable water consumption since 1999.
36 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 37
m³
Figure 17. 
Potable water consumption of the Urban Services and Maintenance 
of Public Space department in 2025 (m3) Figure 17. Table 15.
69.590
120.214
1.556.284 0
Green spaces Street cleaning Ornamental fountains Sewer cleaning
38 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA
Use of water 
by the municipal 
services
Here, we will examine the water consumption data (both 
potable and alternative water resources) corresponding to the 
municipal services of the city of Barcelona, and especially the 
Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space department. 
The use of groundwater has gradually been replacing the 
consumption of potable water where this is allowed, thus 
saving potable water.
3.
Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 41
3 M unicipal services  3.1 Municipal services’ total water consumption
consumption data
Barcelona’s Action Protocol for Drought establishes the model for the municipal services to 
follow with a view to preparing for this situation and minimising its impact. The figures for 
2024 show a significant reduction in water consumption, especially municipal services’ use 
of potable water, as a result of the activation of the protocol’s emergency stage. 
The drought ended in May 2025, at which time normal water management and availability 
were restored. The total potable water and groundwater consumed by municipal services in 
2025 was 5.3 million m³, 1 million m³ less than in 2024. 
Figure 18. 
Evolution of municipal services’ water consumption  
(potable and groundwater) Figure 18. Table 16.
10.000.000
8.000.000
171
6.000.000 4.
5.3
4
4.000.000
2.000.000
0
99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Potable water Groundwater Total consumption
42 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 43
m3
The distribution of the municipal services’ total consumption  in 2025 (potable water plus Figure 20. 
groundwater) was as follows: Evolution of Urban Services and Maintenance of  
Public Space total water consumption (potable and groundwater) Figure 20. Table 17.
Figure 19. 
Distribution of the total water consumed (potable and groundwater)  5.500.000
3 Tables 17 
by services and departments in 2025 (m ) Figure 19. and 18.
5.000.000
4.500.000
1.816.191 4.000.000
3.500.000
9
484.627 3.000.000 9.7
4
2.5
8
2.500.000
2.000.000
32.736 1.500.000
160.828 1.000.000
500.000
0
259.986 99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
57.089
Green spaces Street cleaning Ornamental fountains Sewer cleaning Total consumption
177.347
458.378 1.108.368
Green spaces Street cleaning Ornamental fountains Sewer cleaning Figure 21. 
Zoo Municipal markets Institute of Culture Sports facilities Evolution of municipal departments’ (excluding Urban Services  
Other buildings and Maintenance of Public Space) total water consumption  
(potable and groundwater) Figure 21. Table 18.
The Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space (SUMEP) department manages the 
provision of urban and environmental maintenance services in accordance with a series of 4.500.000
quality and sustainability criteria. Its functions relating to water include the maintenance and 4.000.000
improvement of urban greenery, management of the urban water cycle (including manage-
ment of the sewer system and ornamental fountains) and urban cleaning. 3.500.000
8
4.3
6
5
In normal conditions, the Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space department’s 3.000.000 2.7
water consumption represents around 60% of the total water consumption across all mu- 2.500.000
nicipal services.  
2.000.000
1.500.000
1.000.000
500.000
0
05 070 0 009 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5
2 2 2 20
1
20
1 01 01 01 02 2 2
2 2 2 2 20 20
Other buildings Sports facilities Buildings and facilities Zoo
Municipal markets Institute of Culture Total consumption
44 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 45
m³ m3
3.2 Consumption of groundwater Figure 22. 
Barcelona’s groundwater network
Traditionally, Barcelona has harnessed its groundwater, which is especially abundant in the 
Besòs delta area (Sant Andreu, Poble Nou and Barceloneta), and industry has consumed 
large amounts of water in this area. In addition, water has been drawn from the Barcelona 
Plain, where various wells were located, and the upper part of the city, where several mines 
were dug. 
The gradual abandonment of the wells used by industry in the Plain and Besòs delta areas 
has led the groundwater level – which used to be low due to overexploitation – to rise slowly. 
Initially, this water was drained straight into the sewers.
Since 1998, however, and thanks to the Plan for Harnessing Barcelona’s Groundwater, the 
City Council has been encouraging sustainable use of groundwater in order to promote its 
use for purposes that do not involve human consumption, and therefore do not require any 
purification processes. This way, local water resources can be used, which reduces the need 
to use water from other natural ecosystems (the Llobregat, Ter and Ebre rivers, for example) 
and helps to control the city’s water table level.
Other uses for this water, apart from watering parks and gardens, 
include street and sewer cleaning and use for ornamental fountains 
and pools. 
The following plan shows the groundwater network in Barcelona (existing network in blue, 
proposed network in red, and planned network in orange). All in all, there are 29 storage 
tanks and 30 hydrants that supply water from aquifers.
46 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 47
The volume of groundwater consumed for municipal uses has increased in the past decade. Figure 24. 
Between 1999 and 2025, the volume of groundwater consumed by municipal services was Monthly distribution of consumption of groundwater in Barcelona 
25.3 million m³. in 2025 Figure 24. Table 20.
Groundwater consumption has increased by 198% over the last 160.000
two decades, going from 301,730 m3 in 1999 to 899,459 m3 in 2025. 
This figure is equivalent to 17% of municipal services’ total water 140.000
consumption in 2025. 
120.000
100.000
Figure 23. 
Consumption of groundwater in Barcelona Figure 23. Table 19. 80.000
60.000
1.550.000
1.450.000 40.000
1.350.000
20.000
1.250.000
1.150.000 0
1.050.000 ary ary h ril y e ly st er er er er
nu bru Marc Ap Ma unJ Ju gu
u mb tob mb b
9 Ja e A te c e em
950.000 .45 F Sep O ov c
9 N De
9
850.000 8
750.000
650.000
550.000
450.000
Thanks to the groundwater use sustainability indicator used by Barcelona City Council, 
350.000
the use of groundwater in the city can be monitored. This indicator is calculated for all mu-
250.000
99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 nicipal services and for the Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space department.
19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
In 2008, following the drought that occurred in Barcelona, the sustainability index increased 
considerably, as great efforts were made to cut consumption of potable water and use 
groundwater for purposes that did not require potable-quality water. 
48 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 49
m3
m3
Thanks to efforts made in recent decades, water demand has been met with groundwater in 3.2.1 U rban Services and Maintenance of Public 
order to save potable water. Existing groundwater use infrastructure has taken the municipal Space’s groundwater consumption
services’ sustainability index to 17%. More specifically, the Urban Services and Maintenance 
of Public Space department – which includes departments that need large amounts of water 
to run properly – has a sustainability index of 33%. In 2025, the Barcelona City Council used groundwater for the following purposes:
Green spaces Ornamental fountains
100 x consumption of groundwater
Sustainability 
indicator 36% 16%
total consumption of water (groundwater and potable)
Street cleaning Other uses
Figure 25. 36% 6%
Evolution of the sustainability index of Barcelona City Council  
and Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space (SUMEP) Figure 25. Table 21.
70,00 Sewer cleaning
60,00
6%
50,00
40,00
33
%
30,00
20,00 17
%
10,00
0,00
999 01 03 05
0 0 07 9 1 3 5 5
1 2 2 20 20 200 7
201 9
201 1
201 01 01 02 23 2
2 2 2 20 20
Barcelona City Council sustainability index
Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space sustainability index
50 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 51
%
Figure 26. Figure 28. 
Consumption of groundwater for municipal use Figure 26. Table 22. Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space total water                    
consumption (potable and groundwater) and sustainability index Figure 28. Table 23.
2.000.000 5.000.000 100
1.750.000 4.500.000
4.000.000 80
1.500.000
3.500.000
1.250.000
59
3.000.000 60
99
.4
1.000.000 8 2.500.000
750.000 2.000.000 40
1.500.000 33
%
500.000
1.000.000 20
250.000 500.000
0 0 0
99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 99 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 7 9 1 3 5
19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 19 0 1
2 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 201 02 02 02
2 2 2
Green spaces Street cleaning Ornamental fountains Potable water Groundwater Sustainability index
Sewer cleaning Other uses
Figure 29. 
Figure 27. Evolution of the sustainability index of the different municipal uses  
Consumption of groundwater for municipal use in 2025 Figure 27. Table 22. of Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space (SUMEP) Figure 29. Table 24.
0%36%
100 10
90
%
82
80
70
60
54
%
50
40
36%
30
7%
16 % 20 1
10
0
6%
6% 99 01 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5
19 20 200
200 00 00 01 01 01 01 01 02 02
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 202
Green spaces Street cleaning Ornamental fountains
Green spaces Street cleaning Sewer cleaning
Sewer cleaning Other uses Ornamental fountains
52 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 53
m3
% m³
%
3.2.2 C onsumption of groundwater for green spaces Figure 31. 
Distribution of groundwater consumption for watering green areas 
and other uses in 2025 Figure 31. Table 26.
Green spaces are among the main consumers of groundwater in Barcelona; since 1999, they 
have consumed some 9.4 million m³ of it. 
This year, once the drought came to an end, total water consumption in this area returned 
to normal. As a result, in 2025, the Green Spaces department consumed 326,088 m³ of 
groundwater, and its sustainability index stood at 17.32%. 
1,5%
1,9%
77,6%
2,9%
Figure 30. 
Total water consumption (potable and groundwater)  
of green spaces and sustainability index Figure 30. Table 25. 8,3%
3.500.000 100
3.000.000 7,8%
80
2.500.000
60
2.000.000
Hydrants Irrigations Forum Building Botanical garden Others
1.500.000
40 Old Botanical Garden Sports facilities
1.000.000 %
17
,3
20
500.000
0 0
99 01 03 05 07 09 1 3 5 7
19 20 20 20 1 1
20 20 20 20 201 9 3
201 1 21 2 25
20 20 20 20
Potable water Groundwater Sustainability index
54 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 55
m3
%
Figure 32. Figure 34. 
Climate characterisation for 2024 (precipitation) Origin of water for watering, including rainwater
160
5.000.000
140
4.500.000
120 4.000.000
100 3.500.000
3.000.000
80
2.500.000
60 2.000.000
1.500.000
40
1.000.000
20
500.000
0 0
ary ary rch
l
pri ay neu uly t
M J us ber er er er 01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
nu bru Ma A J ug ob b b 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Ja A m t m m
Fe ep
te Oc ve ce
S No De
Precipitation 2024 Precipitation 2025 Average precipitation in the last ten years Rainwater Groundwater Potable water
Average  
precipitation 2025 52.7 Average  Average  
 mm 46 mm
precipitation 2024 56.2 mm precipitation 2016–2025
Figure 35. 
Figure 33. Total water consumption (potable, groundwater and rainwater)  
Climate characterisation for 2025 (evapotranspiration) to water green spaces
180
8.000.000
160
7.000.000
140
6.000.000 2
0.8
8
.185
120
5.000.000
100
4.000.000
80
3.000.000
60
2.000.000
40
1.000.000
20 0
01 03 05 07 09 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25
0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
ary ary rch pril ay e y t r r r r
nu ru a A M Ju
n l
Ju s
ug
u mbe
tobe be e
a b M A m mb
J Fe ep
te Oc ve ce
S No De
ET 2024 ET 2025 Average ET 10 years
Average 73.3 Average
 mm 81.7 Average 
 mm 82.5 mm
ET 2025 ET 2024 ET 20165–2025
56 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 57
mm mm
m3 m³
Automatic watering allows for more efficient management of water and encourages the use 3.3.3 C onsumption of groundwater for street cleaning
of groundwater. The surface area watered automatically has been maintained at 299 ha.
The street cleaning service is one of the main consumers of groundwater in Barcelona; since 
Figure 36. 1999, they have consumed 6.6 million m³ of it. As a result, in 2025, the Street Cleaning 
Green surface area that requires watering and green surface area with automatic department consumed 323,283 m³ of groundwater, and its sustainability index stood 
watering at 82.29%.
600
9
550 53
500
450 Figure 37. 
Total water consumption (potable and groundwater) for street cleaning  
400
and sustainability index Figure 37. Table 27.
350
992
300
250
700.000 100
200
3 %,
150 600.000 82
80
100
500.000
50
0 60
400.000
7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5
19
8 98 99 99 99 99 9 0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1 1 19 20 20 20 20 20
0 01 01 1 1 1 2 2 2
2 2 20 20 20 20 20 20
300.000 40
200.000
Green surface area to be watered Green surface area with automatic watering 20
100.000
0 0
99 01
9 03
0 05 07 09
0 1
0 0 0 1 13
0 5
0 7
01 9
01 1
01 2 23
1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 20 25
20 20
Potable water Groundwater Sustainability index
58 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 59
ha
m³
%
3.3.4  Groundwater consumption for ornamental 3.3.5  Water consumption for sewer cleaning
fountains and pools
Sewer cleaning was less affected by the drought, as this service has been using groundwater 
Since 2023, ornamental fountains were the service most affected by the water-saving meas- for more than a decade. 
ures established due to the drought. This year, since the drought came to an end in May, Since 1999, it has consumed 1.93 million m³ of groundwater. In 2025, sewer cleaning con-
total water consumption has not yet increased significantly, as fountains are being put back sumed 50,606 m³ of groundwater, and its sustainability index stood at 100%.
into operation. 
This service has consumed 6.4 million m³ of groundwater since 1999. In 2025, ornamental 
fountains and pools consumed 143,685 m³ of groundwater, and their sustainability 
index stood at 54.45%.
Figure 38. Figure 39. 
Total water consumption (potable and groundwater)  Total water consumption (potable and groundwater)  
for ornamental fountains and sustainability index Figure 38. Table 28. for sewers and sustainability index Figure 39. Table 29.
 %
10
0
1.400.000 100 180.000 100
160.000
1.200.000
80 80
140.000
1.000.000
120.000
,45
 
54 60 60
800.000 100.000
600.000 80.000
40 40
60.000
400.000
40.000
20 20
200.000
20.000
0 0 0 0
99 01
9 3
0 0 05
0 007 09 11 13 5 7 9 1 3 5 99
9 001
003 05
0 007 09 11 13 15 17 19 1 3 5
0 0 0 0 0 0 02 02 02
1 2 2 20 2 20 20 20 201
201 1 2 2
20 20 0 02
2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Potable water Groundwater Sustainability index Potable water Groundwater Sustainability index
60 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 61
m³
%
m³
%
Barcelona:  
Looking to the future
What initiatives have been promoted in recent years to 
harness alternative resources and encourage water-saving 
and efficiency measures? What conclusions can be drawn 
4. from the calculation of Barcelona’s water footprint? What 
commitments is the city making for the future? This section 
takes a look at a future made uncertain by climate change.
Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 63
4 W ater-saving and 4.1 The city’s commitments
efficiency  
measures
4.1.1  Climate Plan
Barcelona has a long-standing commitment to tackling climate change. This commitment has 
evolved in response to scientific evidence and to both local and international movements, 
culminating in the publication of the 2030 Climate Emergency Action Plan in 2021, which 
merges the Climate Plan approved in 2018 and Barcelona’s Climate Emergency Declaration, 
adopted in 2020.
In 2024, the city took a further step with the presentation of a Government Measure for the 
Climate Plan Government Measure, designed to place climate policies at the heart of mu-
nicipal action. 
64 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 65
In order to achieve mitigation and adaptation goals and accelerate climate action, new water 4.1.2 Barcelona Alternative Water Resources Plan
cycle initiatives have been identified.
To address the city’s challenges, Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua, SA continues to implement 
the various lines of action set out in Barcelona’s Alternative Water Resources Plan 
RESILIENCE PLAN (PLARHAB). Particular emphasis is placed on advancing the Regulatory Byelaw on Greywater 
Reuse Systems, which seeks to promote the reuse of greywater in new buildings and major 
refurbishments.
Guaranteeing Reducing The regulations stipulate that newly built residential buildings, or those undergoing major 
adequate the risk of refurbishment, with 16 or more dwellings must incorporate systems to reuse greywater – such 
water flooding as water from showers and baths – for toilet flushing, drip irrigation and street cleaning. The 
resources due to poor measure will also apply to buildings with other uses, such as hotels or sports centres, whose 
drainage annual water consumption for irrigation or cleaning equals or exceeds 595 m³, for the same 
purposes as those required in residential buildings.
Implementing these systems could yield significant savings in drinking water, strengthening 
the city’s resilience to climate change and drought.
Bring domestic drinking Install 7 hectares of 
water consumption down sustainable urban drainage The byelaw was published in the BOPB (Barcelona Province Official Gazette) on 18 July 2025.
to no more than 90 litres systems (SUDS).
per person per day.
Increase the use of 
underground water by 2.7 GREYWATER REUSE 
hm3. CIRCUIT
1.
Replace 100,000 m3/ year  Collecting greywater
 from showers and baths
of drinking water with On average, a household of 
alternative water resources 4 people generates 200 
litres of reusable greywater 
for municipal uses. per day.
HEAT PLAN
Reducing 2.
3.
heat Greywater 
Reuse of greywater treatment
For toilets, watering plants and hosing down
vulnerability streets in public spaces
Provide a water play area 
in every district.
A
66 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 67
Similarly, as part of the reclaimed water reuse line of action, work is progressing in line 
with the Special Infrastructure Plan for the Marina del Prat Vermell neighbourhood to ensure 4.1.3 H eat Plan  
that building permits include reuse networks for toilets.
“Heat Plan 2025-2035” is the city’s strategic response to this challenge. It is an ambitious, 
Regarding groundwater use, Barcelona has this year made a major commitment to expanding rigorous, cross-cutting roadmap that outlines the initiatives needed to adapt Barcelona to a 
its groundwater network as part of its efforts to increase resilience to the effects of climate 
change. In line with the objectives of the Climate Plan, the network has been expanded in scenario of more frequent, intense and prolonged heat.
order to secure additional alternative water resources for irrigating green spaces, street trees The plan is structured around seven overarching objectives that address the complexity of 
and planters, supplying the fire service, filling ornamental fountains, and cleaning streets, 
sewers, monuments and rainwater storage tanks. the heat challenge from multiple perspectives: transforming public spaces and urban infras-
tructure to make them more resilient; improving thermal comfort in housing and public faci-
In total, seven intervention areas have been planned. The most notable is the expansion of lities; strengthening emergency protocols; protecting at-risk groups; fostering a new culture 
the groundwater network on Montjuïc as part of the Pla Endreça, scheduled for com- around heat through public awareness and citizen participation; promoting applied research 
pletion in the first quarter of 2026. and innovation; and embedding a climate perspective across all municipal public policies.
To increase the resilience of public spaces to heat and reduce the urban heat island effect, 
Moreover, by the end of 2025, Barcelona had 173,044 m² of Sustainable Urban Drainage plans have been drawn up to install water-based cooling features.
Systems (SUDS), an increase of 27,477 m² – almost 19% more than the previous year. These 
systems include green corridors as well as new squares and gardens designed to promote In 2025, these systems were already operating in areas including Canyelles, Les Rieres d’Horta 
water infiltration into the aquifer and the attenuation of rainwater, thereby protecting the sewer Park, Bon Pastor, the Canòdrom Meridiana, Pl. Maresme, the former Casa de l’Aigua, Parc 
network and reducing the risk of flooding. de les Glòries, the Sant Joan de Déu Gardens at Illa Diagonal and Pl. Caramelles.
The number is expected to rise to eighteen sites by 2026, in line with the Climate Plan’s 
municipal target of ensuring that every district has at least one cooling space.
68 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 69
4.2 Culture of water sustainability In 2024, a total of 6,488 people took part in water-related services. Altogether, 65 services 
were offered, comprising 403 activities – including both delivered activities and resources 
provided – by the Office for Climate Change in collaboration with partners such as BCASA. 
Highlights included visits to Barcelona’s sewerage system and rainwater retention tanks, as 
well as sessions on water management in the city during periods of drought.
The Citizens’ Council for Sustainability also established a working group on alternative 
water resources in response to the needs identified by various organisations during the 
drought. The group held three working sessions aimed at bringing new perspectives to the 
challenge of strengthening the city’s water resilience.
In terms of educational resources, a notable development was the enhancement of the water 
toolkit, which now offers a set of independent yet complementary materials designed to 
help people learn about water – its cycle, its uses and the properties that make it essential.
The new culture of sustainability encompasses the knowledge, values and practices that 
city residents – both individually and collectively – must develop responsibly, with sound 
judgement and creativity, in order to address socio-environmental challenges and uphold 
people’s basic rights within the planet’s ecological limits. This approach is promoted through 
the “Let’s Change for the Climate Plan” and, in the context of water, focuses on:
• Fostering the autonomy and empowerment of city residents, schools, organisations 
and businesses in all matters relating to efficient water use. This includes raising 
awareness of how alternative water resources are managed, how the municipal water 
network operates and how water savings can be achieved through collaborative chal-
lenges.
• Providing the knowledge and tools needed to promote values, awareness and the 
adoption of sustainable habits based on the conscious and responsible use of the 
city’s various water resources.
For instance, the “Let’s Save Water” challenge aims to raise public awareness of the need 
for responsible water use, with targets to reduce:
• Domestic consumption by 10 litres per person per day, bringing it down to 90 litres per 
person per day.
• Commercial and industrial consumption by 15%, to 20 hm³ per year.
• Municipal consumption by 10%, to 5 hm³ per year.
Barcelona City Council’s More Sustainable Barcelona Network produces educational ma-
terials to encourage water saving and responsible use among city residents and to publicise 
the city’s most significant municipal initiatives. These include environmental education guides, 
pamphlets, a website, exhibitions and other resources.
70 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 71
4.3  Research and innovation  BCASA also contributes to several other projects that advance innovation and knowledge in 
the management of the city’s water cycle. The following initiatives, supported in 2025 either 
through formal agreements or letters of support, are particularly noteworthy: 
• NATURBPOND (UB), assessing the contribution of naturalised urban ponds to the 
environmental sustainability of cities. 
• ATTENUATE (CISC-IDAEA), evaluating the natural attenuation of emerging organic 
contaminants in urban aquifers through modelling and the identification of transformation 
products.
• An epidemiological surveillance project based on wastewater analysis (Barcelona 
Public Health Agency, Catalan Institute for Water Research – ICRA, Pompeu Fabra 
University and University of Girona)..
• RECLAM (Polytechnic University of Catalonia), focusing on nature-based solutions for 
the use and reuse of water resources from the Besòs.
• PLUVIPA-BCN (UB), exploring new methods for treating and reusing rainwater from the 
city’s rainwater retention tanks.
BCASA promotes research, development and innovation as drivers of continuous improvement • PCP-WISE (Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia – IEEC), on pre-commercial public 
in the water cycle. In 2025, BCASA was involved in the following projects: procurement of solutions to strengthen water resilience.
• The European Horizon project ENFORCE  (Empower citizeNs to join Forces with public 
authORities in proteCting the Environment), which aims to empower city residents and 
public authorities to incorporate citizen science into environmental protection, ensure 
environmental compliance and help shape the policy agenda. The project was launched 
in September 2024 and will run for four years. The Barcelona case study focuses on the 
challenges facing urban beaches.  
• An assessment of the beneficial effects of sustainable urban drainage systems 
(SUDS), conducted in collaboration with the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Institute 
for Environmental Diagnosis and Water Studies (CSIC-IDAEA). The study examines the 
impact of these systems on butterfly biodiversity and beneficial soil biota, alongside an 
analysis of soil composition and the quality of the water managed by SUDS.
The current study (2025-2026) builds on and extends the preliminary findings of the 
2023-2024 study. Monitoring is continuing at the Marina del Prat Vermell SUDS area in 
Sants-Montjuïc, which was already covered in the earlier research. The scope has also 
been expanded to include additional SUDS sites: Plaça de les Glòries and Ca l’Alier, both 
in Sant Martí, Consell de Cent in Eixample and Bon Pastor in Sant Andreu.
• AFTER-LIFE – iBATHWATER “Advanced urban management to efficiently ensure bath-
ing water quality”. The LIFE iBATHWATER project (September 2018 – September 2022), 
funded by the European Commission, aimed to reduce the impact of overflow events 
on bathing water quality during rainfall in two pilot cities: Barcelona (coastal waters) and 
Berlin (river waters).
Work carried out in 2025 under the project’s After-LIFE commitments has focused on the 
continued refinement of bathing water quality indicator analysis (Escherichia coli and ente-
rococci).   
• BIT Habitat – The Proactive City – Drought Mission Call. BCASA va participar en el 
comitè que va seleccionar les propostes de la convocatòria “BIT Habitat - La Ciutat Pro-
activa 2024 - Missió sequera”. Durant el 2025 s’ha fet el seguiment del desenvolupament 
dels projectes seleccionats i la valoració dels impactes es durà a terme al 2026.
72 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 73
4.4  The Drought Protocol for Barcelona Given that three consecutive years had seen around half of the average rainfall and water 
reserves were not recovering, the Catalan Water Agency (ACA) was forced to declare an 
Emergency in early 2024. However, as the precipitation then increased, the Catalan Water 
Agency (ACA) declared a state of Alert at the end of June.
At the same time, Barcelona City Council implemented the measures set out in its protocol 
to reduce municipal services’ water consumption, increase the substitution of drinking wa-
ter with groundwater and keep city residents informed about the restrictions in place at any 
given time.
The hydrological situation began to improve in 2025 and the restrictions were gradually 
relaxed, first with a shift to the pre-alert stage and finally with the return to normality in May.
Pre-alert 
17/02/22 Alert 
22/11/22
2022
The potable water supply in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area and its sphere of influence is 
ensured by a regional wholesale system that mainly uses surface water resources regulated 
by the Ter-Llobregat system, which includes the basins of the rivers Ter (with the Sau and 
Susqueda reservoirs) and Llobregat (with the La Baells, Sant Ponç and La Llosa del Cavall 2023
reservoirs).
Pre-emergency Exceptionality  
Over the course of this century, exceptional measures have been applied to the Ter-Llobregat 21/11/2023 28/02/23
system three times, with supply restrictions and interruptions for some specific uses in order 
to guarantee the availability of water for human consumption.
As a result, in 2016, the Generalitat de Catalunya drafted the Special Action Plan for Sit-
uations of Alert and Potential Drought (PES) (approved definitively on 8 January 2020, 
by the Agreement GOV/1/2020), which improves on drought declarations made in previous 
years and turns them into a protocol. This special plan stipulates that municipalities with a 
population of 20,000 or more must establish a drought emergency plan for urban uses. 2024
In the same vein, in 2018, Barcelona City Council approved the Drought Protocol, with a Emergency Alert 
view to defining the systematic set of actions that municipal services and external services 02/02/2024 28/06/24
must take in the event of a drought, taking into consideration not only the measures provided 
for in the regulations in force, but also extraordinary preventive and proactive measures for 
more efficient water management and to raise public awareness. 
To achieve this goal, the protocol pursues two complementary areas of work. On the one 
hand, it refers to the preventive, water-saving and efficient resource management measures Exceptionality
set out in the PLARHAB to plan ahead for possible droughts and make Barcelona a resilient 13/05/2024
city. On the other, it defines reactive measures so that, once a drought is identified, the spe- 2025
cific tasks to carry out are clearly defined, as well as the parties to whom they are assigned.
Normality Pre-alert
16/05/25 11/04/25
74 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 75
The following figure shows the evolution of the Ter-Llobregat system from September 2015 
to late 2025, as well as the thresholds for the different water status scenarios proposed in 
the protocol. Over this period, the decline in reservoir levels supplying Barcelona and the 
successive triggering of the alert phases established by the drought protocol are clearly 
visible. During 2025, however, reservoir levels rose significantly as the drought came to an 
end.
600
560
520 Figure 40.  
480 Evolution of the Ter-Llobregat system (2015–2025)
440
400 600
360 560
320 520
480
280 440
240 400
360
200 320
160 280
120 240
200
80 160
40 120
80
0 40
5 6 0 6
r 1  1 r 1  1
7 7 8 8 9 9 0 0 1 1 2
r 1  1 r 1  1 r 1  2 r 2  2  2  2  2
2 3 3 4 4
 2  2  2  2
be une e5 e e e e
/b1 /15 un /16 /1b6
e e e e
/16 un/17 /17 b /18 /1u8n /19 b/19 /19 un /20 /20b /21 u/2n1
e 1 er2 2 ne 3 3er 4 e r e r
m J m9 9 J 2 m7 2 J 5 0 3 /2 b
m /2 /2 u /2 /2b /2 un e e
/24 /24 b /25 /u25n b
ce c1e/0 1/0 1/0 1c/e0 1/1 1/0 1/1ce 1/0 1/08J /01 e/m06 /11 J /04 9m 2 J7 2 m 5 0 J
1 c1 1 1 1c/0e 1/0 1/0 1/1 ce1/0 1/1 1/03 /0e8m /01 J/06 /11 em/04 /09J em
De De0 0 0 De0 0 0 0De 0 0 0 De0 0 0 D0e 0 0 0 De 0 0 0 D0e1c 01 01 01
Dec 01 01 c
De
Maximum capacity of the Ter-Llobregat system
Ter-Llobregat system
Pre-alert
Pre-alert 2
Alert (outow)
Alert (inow)
Exceptionality (outow)
Exceptionality (inow)
Emergency (inow-outow)
76 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 77
hm 3
hm3
4.5 Water balance for the city of Barcelona BCN 2025
hm3/any
Groundwater  31.8
Surface 131.9
Desalination plants  20.1
Rainwater
71.6
ATLL network Potable Evapotranspiration
25.9
Potable
 183.9 water
 77.1
Rest of AMB Consumption BCN
 106.9 Rainwater 
Good water cycle management requires indicators that identify processes that can be al- Domestic 62.8
tered to improve their environmental sustainability. In order to establish these indicators, the Commercial 25.4
available information must be collected and analysed. Bcn Aquifer Industrial
In relation to the water cycle, this document analyses water consumption in the city, with Consumption 4.4
Grid losses 6.4 Municipal
emphasis on municipal services’ use of water. In addition, as part of the preliminary studies 
carried out by Barcelona Regional, the Climate Plan calculates the city of Barcelona’s water Non-revenue 14.3
Private -0.4
balance, as well as how it is impacted by climate change. These data and those published wells
by the organisations involved in this area come together to form the water balance for Bar- Groundwater -0.9 Groundwater 1.3
network
celona for the year 2025.
Inltration 9.5 Rainwater 71.6
Metro
extractions -5.9* Wastewater
Temporary
depletion -2.2
Groundwater Sewage system
25.5 83.3
Other 47.4 WWTP WWTP 45.1 Other
municipalities Llobregat Besòs municipalities
Regenerated  46.0 128.9
water
26.9
*Data available up to 2024.
Source: Adaptation of the figure created for the Climate Plan, 2017. Impact Study on Climate Change in Barcelona. Chapter VIII. Water Cycle
78 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 79
4.6 Barcelona’s water footprint The Blue WF has been calculated based on the data from this report in 2025, adding together 
the data on potable water consumption and groundwater extraction for the domestic, 
commercial, industrial and public services sectors. Total drinking water consumption in 
Barcelona in 2025 was shaped by the transition towards hydrological normality. Domestic, 
commercial, industrial and municipal consumption increased slightly following the lifting of 
drought restrictions.
More precise data are now available on water allocations across Barcelona and on non-
revenue water, which has enabled a more accurate assessment of network efficiency. The 
city’s direct Blue WF for 2025 stands at 114.27 hm³, an increase of 3.6% compared with 
2024.
The Green WF takes into account evapotranspiration from the city’s plant cover. CROPWAT 
software is used to calculate it, based on the available data from the weather station in El 
Raval that can determine the reference evapotranspiration for the year under examination. 
The crop coefficient data according to type of cover and the surface area of the cover 
(whether grass, shrubs or trees) have been deemed to be the same as in 2018. The direct 
Green WF is 13.93 hm³ in 2025, 21.7% higher than the previous year.
Finally, the grey WF is calculated by taking into account the pollutant load in the water 
The water footprint (WF) is an indicator that calculates the volume of fresh water used sent back into the environment after use. There are two levels of pollution when it comes 
through a life-cycle analysis approach, capturing not only direct water use but also its to the water returned to the environment in the city of Barcelona (this also applies to the 
indirect dimensions. This volume is calculated following the Water Footprint Assessment vast majority of cities). First, there is the normal situation in dry periods, when the water 
Manual established by Hoekstra in 2011. is purified completely and returns to the environment with a very low pollutant load that 
remains within the limits set by current legislation. Second, there is the water that overflows 
The method seeks to identify, in visual terms, the quantity of water we use, pollute or fail to from the sanitation system when the rain exceeds the sewage system’s capacity; in these 
return to the environment. From a municipal management perspective, calculating the water cases, the water’s pollutant load is higher. The year 2024 was rainier than the previous year. 
footprint makes it possible to analyse, at city scale, where measures could be introduced to The direct Grey WF reached 181.72 hm³, 4.6% above 2024.
reduce the impact on water resources.
Barcelona’s total direct WF for 2025 therefore amounts to 309.93 hm³.
The direct WF is the sum of the WF from the three following areas:
The measure of the fresh water coming from natural or artificial springs, rivers, 
lakes or aquifers. Normally, it is extracted through structures built specifically for 
3
this purpose. 114,27 hm
The measure of the use of water from rain or snow that reaches the ground and 
can be used by plants, that does not turn into run-off and that, eventually, will 
go back into the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. 
13,93 hm3
This refers to contamination of water through use. It is defined as the amount 3
of water needed to absorb the contamination generated in order to return the 309,93 hm
water to its original state.
To calculate the total WF, the indirect or virtual WF needs to be incorporated. For this purpose, 
imported and exported products and their corresponding WF need to be quantified. The 181,72 hm3
calculation that has been carried out has taken the city’s direct WFs into account but not its 
indirect ones, as there are no itemised data available on a municipal scale.
80 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 81
4.7 Virtual water Virtual water in products
Source: Water 
Footprint Food and drink
Network 
VS VS
Orange (150 g) Orange juice (1 l) Potato (100 g) Bag of 
80 litres 1,020 litres 29 litres crisps (200 g)
208 litres
4.7.1 What is virtual water?
Apple (150 g) Wheat (1 kg) Chicken meat Pork meat  Beef meat  
Virtual water is the amount of fresh water used directly and indirectly to produce, manufac- 125 litres 1,220 (1 kg) (1 kg) (1 kg)
ture and distribute goods, products or services. This means that all the food and products litres 4,300 litres 6,000 litres 15,400 litres
we consume every day also have a water footprint.
As well as telling us how much water is hidden in our consumption, virtual water is a key 
tool for calculating a country’s real use of water, or its water footprint, and an indicator of its 
demand in comparison to the planet’s water resources.
In the case of food production, water is used to irrigate crops, feed animals and clean facil-
ities. Knowing how much water we used to produce our goods and services and how much 
virtual water we import or export and from which countries can help us to manage water Cup of tea  Glass of beer Cup of Glass of milk  Glass of wine  
more sustainably and fairly. (250 ml) (250 ml) coffee (125 ml) (250 ml) (125 ml)
30 litres 74 litres 130 litres 255 litres 110 litres
The Water Footprint Network website can tell us how much water is used to make a wide 
variety of products we consume every day. The calculated values are based on global av-
erages across a period of ten years; therefore, a specific product will have a different water 
footprint depending on where, when and how it was made. Clothing and footwear
T-shirt (250 g) Pair of leather Trousers Leather suitcase 
4,100 litres shoes (800 g) (cow leather – 1 kg)
8,000 litres 8,000 litres 17,000 litres
82 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 83
4.7.2 How to reduce virtual water consumption 
Water-saving and efficiency measures must be implemented, along with agricultural systems 
adapted to the environment and local production and culture. 
But each of us can contribute towards a model of responsible consumption that helps to 
combat climate change and reduce the need to overexploit water resources. How?
• Reducing water consumption at home
• Consuming responsibly and only buying what we really need
• Changing buying habits, e.g. choosing organic, local, seasonal food
• Choosing recycled products, which consume less water during 
their manufacturing, or products with a long lifespan.
• Reducing consumption of meat and processed foods, as more 
water resources are needed to produce them.
• Avoiding products that use large quantities of toxic or dangerous 
substances that can contribute towards polluting the water
Calculate your water footprint. Save water and don’t contaminate it. Be part of the new 
water culture. 
84 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 85
Visual 
summary 2025
Potable water municipal services 
Consumption by Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space (m3)
Potable water 
Consumption
Consumption city of Barcelona (hm3)
92.6 19%
Water saving Green Street Ornamental Sewer 
1999–2025 spaces cleaning fountains cleaning
1,556,284 69,590 120,214 0
Domestic Industry and trade Municipal services
1,746,088
61.8 25.4 4.4 Water-saving 1999/2024
Water-saving 1999/2025
Domestic Industry and trade Municipal services Green Street Ornamental Sewer 
spaces cleaning fountains cleaning
48% 81% 90% 100%
14% 23% 48%
Domestic consumption per inhabitant equivalent (l/day)
99.3
86 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 87
Visual 
summary 2025
Potable + groundwater consumption
Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space (m3)
Groundwater 
Consumption by Barcelona City Council (m3) 
Green Street Ornamental Sewer 
spaces cleaning fountains cleaning
Green Street Ornamental 
spaces cleaning fountains 1,882,372 392,873 263,899 50,606
326,088 323,283 143,685
2,589,749
Sewer Other 
cleaning uses Water saving 1999–2025
50,606 55,798 46%
899,459
Increase in consumption 1999–2025
198%
88 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 89
Visual 
summary 2025
Barcelona City Council  
sustainability index
17%
Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space
Green Street Ornamental Sewer 
spaces cleaning fountains cleaning
17% 82% 54% 100%
33%
Water footprint (hm3)
114,27 13,93 181,72
309,93
90 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 91
List of tables
Table 1. Reservoirs that supply Barcelona 96
Table 2. Evolution in precipitation available for watering in Barcelona 97
Table 3. Analysis of available water resources in Barcelona 98
Table 4. Different administrations’ powers in terms 
of water planning and distribution 99
Table 5. M aximum allocation according to the PES and potable water allocation actually supplied in 
Barcelona 100
Table 6. Water allocation supplied to Barcelona according to sector and non-revenue water 2025 101
Table 7. Evolution of potable water consumption in Barcelona 102
Table 8. Evolution of potable water consumption by sector 103
Table 9. Evolution of potable water consumption per inhabitant per day 104
Table 10. Evolution of monthly potable water consumption (hm3) 105
Table 11. Evolution of domestic potable water consumption 106
Table 12. Evolution of domestic potable water consumption per inhabitant per day 107
Table 13. Evolution of commercial and industrial potable water consumption 108
Table 14. Evolution of municipal services’ potable water consumption 109
Table 15. Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space potable water consumption 110
Table 16. Evolution of municipal services’ water consumption (potable and groundwater) 111
Table 17. E volution of Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space total water consumption 
(potable and groundwater) 112
Table 18. T otal water consumption (potable and groundwater) by municipal services and departments 
(except SUMEP) 113
Table 19. Consumption of groundwater in Barcelona 114
Table 20. Monthly distribution of consumption of groundwater in Barcelona in 2025 115
Table 21. Evolution of the sustainability index of Barcelona City Council
and Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space 116
Table 22. Consumption of groundwater for municipal use 117
Table 23. Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space’s total water consumption
(potable and groundwater) and sustainability index 118
Table 24. Evolution of the sustainability index of the different municipal uses
of Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space 119
Table 25. T otal water consumption (potable and groundwater)  
of green spaces and sustainability index 120
Table 26. Distribution of groundwater consumption 
for watering green areas and other uses in 2025 121
Table 27. T otal water consumption (potable and groundwater) for street cleaning and sustainability 
index 122
Table 28. Total water consumption (potable and groundwater) 
for ornamental fountains and sustainability index 123
Table 29. Total water consumption (potable and groundwater) 
for sewers and sustainability index 124
92 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 93
Table 1. Table 2. 
Reservoirs that supply Barcelona Evolution in precipitation available for watering in Barcelona Figure 5. Table 2.
Reservoir (basin) Maximum capacity (hm3) Year Rainwater (hm3) % of the total
River Ter 2001 1.902 37
Sau (Vilanova de Sau) 165.26 2002 3.867 62
2003 2.287 44
Susqueda (Osor) 233.00
2004 2.378 46
El Pasteral 2.00
2005 2.355 52
River Llobregat
2006 2.141 49
La Baells (Cercs) 109.43
2007 2.331 50
La Llosa del Cavall (Navès) 80.00 2008 2.787 65
Sant Ponç (Clariana de Cardener) 24.38 2009 2.268 54
2010 3.009 61
2011 3.632 63
2012 2.083 47
2013 2.576 55
2014 2.898 57
2015 1.383 36
2016 1.949 44
2017 2.205 46
2018 4.672 67
2019 3.156 55
2020 3.900 61
2021 1.780 40
2022 1.732 37
2023 1.347 48
2024 3.641 76
2025 3,300 77
94 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 95
Table 3. Table 4. 
Analysis of available water resources in Barcelona Different administrations’ powers in terms of water planning and distribution
Source:
(1) According to data Type of resource Volume used Concession Potential 
from the UPC-CSIC- (hm3/year) volume volume Government of Metropolitan Barcelona City 
IDAEA Updated (hm3/year) (hm3/year)
Groundwater Mass Catalonia Area Council
Balance (November 
2017).
(2) According to TMB Groundwater Available in 0.74 4.4 2-3 (1) Water planning
data, and viability each extraction 
conditional on quality location:
study 0.35 5-8 (1) Wholesale supply
• Water table 
(3) Available at the BCN Plain
WWTP based on the Retail supply
planned facilities • Water table *
(4) According to Besòs
PLARHAB 2020 data Monitoring and inspection
TMB 0.02 3.68 (2)
underground Tariff approval
infrastructure 
depletion
Actions in risk of drought
Regenerated 0 – 2.6 (3)
water from 
the Llobregat *Barcelona City Council delegates this responsibility to the AMB
WWTP
Rainwater Urban area 0 – 7.94 (4)
Rieres de 0 0.57 (4)
Collserola 
(streams)
96 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 97
Table 5. Table 6. 
Maximum allocation according to the PES  Water allocation supplied to the municipality of Barcelona 
and potable water allocation actually supplied in Barcelona Figure 6. Table 5. according to sector and non-revenue water 2025 Figure 7. Table 6.
Month-year Population Max. allocation Real allocation – Month-year Domestic Commercial Municipal Non-revenue Total (hm3)
equivalent according to total wholesale for (hm3) and services water (hm3)
(equivalent) drought status the city industrial (hm3)
in effect (l/inhab. (l/inhab. eq.·per day) (hm3)
eq.·per day)
January 25  5,39  1,87  0,29  1,37  8,92 
april 22 1.789.237 159
june 22 1.743.332 182
February 25
august 22 1.462.220 188  5,08  1,93  0,30  0,83  8,15 
october 22 1.812.401 170
March 25
december 22 1.741.518 250 166  5,39  1,85  0,28  0,90  8,42 
february 23 1.751.120 250 176
april 23 1.798.237 230 162 April 25  5,26  2,04  0,30  0,84  8,45 
june 23 1.743.332 230 176
august 23 1.462.220 230 181 May 25  5,38  1,95  0,29  1,23  8,86 
october 23 1.812.401 230 170
december 23 1.741.518 210 163 June 25  5,22  2,30  0,34  1,35  9,20 
february 24  1.751.120 200 160
april 24  1.798.237 200 157 July 25  5,49  2,16  0,43  1,31  9,38 
june 24  1.743.332 250 165
august 24  1.462.220 250 176 August 25  5,07  2,43  0,50  0,34  8,34 
october 24  1.812.401 250 165
december 24  1.741.518 250 163 September 25  4,79  2,11  0,47  1,76  9,12 
february 25  1.751.120 250 168
april 25  1.798.237 159 October 25  4,79  2,29  0,44  2,16  9,66 
june 25  1.743.332 176
august 25  1.462.220 184 November 25  5,53  2,20  0,43  1,07  9,22 
october 25  1.812.401 172
december 25  1.741.518 169
December 25  5,38  2,22  0,38  1,14  9,12 
Total 62,76 25,35 4,44 14,30 106,85
98 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 99
Table 7. Table 8. 
Evolution of potable water consumption in Barcelona Figure 8. Table 7. Evolution of potable water consumption by sector Figure 9. Table 8.
Year Consumption Consumption ∆ Previous year ∆ Accumulated Year Domestic Commercial Municipal TOTAL Domestic Commercial Municipal 
(hm3) (m3) (%) since ’99 (%) (hm3) and services (hm3) sector sector services 
industrial (hm3) index (%) index (%) index (%)
(hm3)
1999 114.46 114,463,779
2000 115.13 115,129,927 0.58 0.58 1999 72.93 33.04 8.49 114.46 63.72 28.87 7.42
2001 114.54 114,543,509 -0.51 0.07 2000 74.04 32.97 8.11 115.12 64.32 28.64 7.04
2002 112.75 112,749,347 -1.59 -1.50 2001 73.45 32.93 8.16 114.54 64.13 28.75 7.12
2003 114.53 114,530,984 1.56 0.06
2002 73.68 32.25 6.82 112.75 65.35 28.60 6.05
2004 113.49 113,493,650 -0.91 -0.85
2003 74.04 32.64 7.85 114.53 64.65 28.50 6.85
2005 109.57 109,573,979 -3.58 -4.27
2004 73.53 32.35 7.61 113.49 64.79 28.50 6.71
2006 107.12 107,122,725 -2.29 -6.41
2005 71.28 31.75 6.54 109.57 65.05 28.98 5.97
2007 103.77 103,771,219 -3.23 -9.34
2006 69.20 31.66 6.26 107.12 64.60 29.56 5.84
2008 100.20 100,200,280 -3.56 -12.46
2007 66.64 30.75 6.37 103.77 64.22 29.63 6.14
2009 97.59 97,588,181 -2.68 -14.74
2008 66.57 29.49 4.14 100.20 66.44 29.43 4.13
2010 97.43 97,431,893 -0.16 -14.88
2009 65.15 27.78 4.65 97.57 66.77 28.47 4.77
2011 97.47 97,467,042 0.04 -14.85
2010 64.93 27.74 4.76 97.43 66.64 28.47 4.89
2012 96.51 96,514,391 -0.99 -15.68
2011 64.58 27.68 5.20 97.47 66.26 28.40 5.33
2013 94.67 94,670,000 -1.95 -17.29
2014 91.39 91,390,604 -3.59 -20.16 2012 64.02 27.17 5.34 96.51 66.34 28.15 5.54
2015 93.25 93,251,934 2.00 -18.53 2013 63.78 25.82 5.07 94.67 67.37 27.27 5.36
2016 95.41 95,405,523 2.26 -16.65 2014 61.07 25.25 5.07 91.39 66.82 27.63 5.55
2017 96.14 96,140,334 0.76 -16.01 2015 61.80 25.85 5.61 93.25 66.27 27.72 6.01
2018 95.34 95,343,394 -0.84 -16.71 2016 63.14 26.39 5.87 95.41 66.18 27.66 6.16
2019 96.51 96,507,923 1.21 -15.69 2017 63.63 26.69 5.81 96.14 66.19 27.77 6.05
2020 91.20 91,197,728 -5.82 -20.33 2018 63.27 26.39 5.70 95.34 66.36 27.68 5.98
2021 88.04 88,039,313 -3.59 -23.09 2019 64.09 26.89 5.52 96.51 66.41 27.87 5.72
2022 91.50 91,498,985 3.78 -20.06
2020 67.06 19.15 4.99 91.20 73.53 20.99 5.47
2023 90.94 90,940,518 -0.61 -20.55
2021 63.38 19.38 5.28 88.04 71.99 22.01 5.99
2024 88.83 88,826,819 -2.38 -22.40%
2022 61.98 23.77 5.74 91.50 67.74 25.98 6.27
2025 92,56 92.556.649 1,75 -19,14
2023 62.22 24.85 3.88 90.94 68.41 27.32 4.27
∆ 2025-1999 -21,91 -21.907.130,00 -19,14
2024 61.12 24.42 3.29 88.83 68.81 27.49 3.71
∆ 2025-2007 -11,21 -11.214.570,00 -10,81
2025 62,76 25,35 4,44  92,56 67,81 27,39 4,80
100 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 101
Table 9. Table 10. 
Evolution of potable water consumption per inhabitant per day Figure 10. Table 9. Evolution of monthly potable water consumption (hm3) Figure 11. Table 10.
Year Total consumption (l/res. ∆ Previous year (%) Population Month 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025
per day)
1999 208.6 1.50 1,503,451 January 11,420 9,949 8,964 10,771 8,945 7,552
2000 210.8 1.00 1,496,266
February 8,659 9,878 8,099 6,953 7,696 7,318
2001 208.5 -0.10 1,505,325
2002 202.3 -3.00 1,527,190 March 9,045 9,626 9,279 7,096 7,911 7,520
2003 198.3 -2.00 1,582,738
April 10,913 9,091 7,754 8,351 6,906 7,605
2004 197.0 -0.70 1,578,546
2005 188.4 -4.40 1,593,075
May 8,427 9,611 7,486 7,290 7,259 7,627
2006 182.8 -3.00 1,605,602
2007 178.2 -2.50 1,595,110 June 9,540 9,266 7,800 7,716 7,296 7,856
2008 169.9 -4.60 1,615,908
July 11,832 10,103 9,108 9,181 8,282 8,072
2009 164.9 -2.95 1,621,537
2010 164.8 -0.02 1,619,337 August 8,648 8,553 8,446 7,921 7,487 7,998
2011 165.3 0.28 1,615,448
2012 163.2 -1.29 1,620,943 September 8,786 9,342 8,078 6,719 7,057 7,363
2013 160.9 -1.39 1,611,943
October 10,356 9,047 8,344 8,063 7,140 7,508
2014 156.3 -2.89 1,602,386
2015 159.2 1.90 1,604,555 November 8,190 8,629 7,438 7,845 7,987 8,152
2016 162.5 2.04 1,608,746
December 9,314 6,480 6,636 5,345 7,232 7,986
2017 163.6 0.67 1,610,427
2018 161.2 -1.44 1,620,343
Total 115,130 109,574 97,432 93,252 91,198 92,557
2019 161.5 0.21 1,636,762
2020 150.1 -7.06 1,664,182
2021 147.4 -1.84 1,636,732
2022 153.2 3.96 1,636,193
2023 150.1 -2.04 1,660,122
2024 142.9 -4.76 1,702,547
2025 146,4 -2,43 1.731.649
∆ 1999-2025 -62,2 -30
∆ 2007-2025 -31,8 -18
102 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 103
Table 11. Table 12. 
Evolution of domestic potable water consumption Figure 12. Table 11. Evolution of domestic potable water consumption  
per inhabitant per day Figure 13. Table 12.
Year Consumption (m3) ∆ Previous year (%) Year Consumption (l/res. ∆ Previous year (%) Population (residents)
per day)
1999 72,930,413 –
1999 132.90 -2.00 1,503,451
2000 74,043,647 1.50
2000 135.60 2.00 1,496,266
2001 73,447,730 -0.80
2001 133.70 -1.40 1,505,325
2002 73,683,706 0.30
2002 132.20 -1.10 1,527,190
2003 74,043,782 0.50
2003 128.20 -3.10 1,582,738
2004 73,528,264 -0.70
2004 127.60 -0.50 1,578,546
2005 71,284,219 -0.03
2005 122.60 -3.90 1,593,075
2006 69,203,724 -2.90
2006 118.10 -3.70 1,605,602
2007 66,642,336 -3.70
2007 114.40 -3.10 1,595,110
2008 66,570,403 -0.10
2008 112.90 -1.30 1,615,908
2009 65,153,434 -2.13
2009 110.08 -2.50 1,621,537
2010 64,929,279 -0.34
2010 109.85 -0.21 1,619,337
2011 64,580,887 -0.54
2011 109.53 -0.30 1,615,448
2012 64,024,178 -0.86
2012 108.21 -1.20 1,620,943
2013 63,784,536 -0.37
2013 108.41 0.18 1,611,943
2014 61,066,772 -4.26
2014 104.41 -3.69 1,602,386
2015 61,800,804 1.20
2015 105.52 1.07 1,604,555
2016 63,140,718 2.17
2016 107.53 1.90 1,608,746
2017 63,633,933 0.78
2017 108.26 0.68 1,610,427
2018 63,272,228 -0.57
2018 106.98 -1.18 1,620,343
2019 64,091,895 1.30
2019 107.28 0.28 1,636,762
2020 67,061,653 4.63
2020 110.40 2.91 1,664,182
2021 63,383,291 -5.49
2021 106.10 -3.90 1,636,732
2022 61,984,523 -2.21
2022 103.79 -2.17 1,636,193
2023 62,215,385 0.37
2023 102.68 -1.07 1,660,122
2024 61,119,250 -1.76
2024 98.35 -4.21 1,702,547
2025 62.763.665 2,69
2025 99,30 0,96 1.731.649
∆ 1999-2025 -10.166.748 -13,94
∆ 1999-2025 -33,60 -25,28
∆ 2007-2025 -3.878.671 -5,82
∆ 2007-2025 -15,10 -13,20
104 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 105
Table 13. Table 14. 
Evolution of commercial and industrial potable water consumption Figure 15. Table 13. Evolution of municipal services’ potable water consumption Figure 16. Table 14.
Year Consumption (m3) ∆ Previous year (%) Year Consumption (m3) ∆ Previous year (%)
1999 33,042,749 – 1999 8,490,617 –
2000 32,971,909 0.20 2000 8,114,371 -4.40
2001 32,936,448 -0.10 2001 8,158,331 0.50
2002 32,246,871 -2.10 2002 6,818,770 -16.40
2003 32,638,959 1.20 2003 7,848,243 15.10
2004 32,354,329 -0.90 2004 7,611,057 -3.00
2005 31,751,456 -1.90 2005 6,538,304 -14.10
2006 31,662,382 -0.30 2006 6,256,619 -4.30
2007 30,754,825 -2.90 2007 6,374,058 1.90
2008 29,490,908 -4.10 2008 4,138,969 -35.10
2009 27,782,152 -5.79 2009 4,652,595 12.41
2010 27,740,917 -0.15 2010 4,761,787 2.35
2011 27,683,554 -0.21 2011 5,202,601 9.26
2012 27,172,465 -1.85 2012 5,344,748 2.73
2013 25,823,776 -4.96 2013 5,067,482 -5.19
2014 25,252,255 -2.21 2014 5,071,577 0.08
2015 25,845,155 2.35 2015 5,605,975 10.54
2016 26,391,398 2.11 2016 5,873,407 4.77
2017 26,693,531 1.14
2017 5,812,870 -1.03
2018 26,386,639 -1.15
2018 5,684,527 -2.21
2019 26,893,442 1.92
2019 5,522,586 -2.85
2020 19,145,062 -28.81
2020 4,991,013 -9.63
2021 19,379,251 1.22
2021 5,276,771 5.73
2022 23,774,323 22.68
2022 5,740,139 8.78
2023 24,845,787 4.51
2023 3,879,346 -32.42
2024 24,416,241 1.73
2024 3,291,328 -15.16%
2025 25.348.326 3,82
2025 4.444.658 35,04
∆ 1999-2025 -7.694.423 -23,29
∆ 1999-2025 -4.045.959 -47,65
∆ 2007-2025 -5.406.499 -17,58
∆ 2007-2025 -1.929.400 -30,27
106 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 107
Table 15. Table 16. 
Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space  Evolution of municipal services’ water consumption  
potable water consumption Figure 17. Table 15. (potable and groundwater) Figure 18. Table 16.
Green Street Ornamental Sewer Total potable Year Potable Groundwater (m3) Total ∆ Previous year 
spaces (m3) cleaning (m3) fountains cleaning (m3) water water(m3) consumption (%)
(m3) SUMEP (m3) (m3)
1999 2,972,696 359,628 1,174,333 30,052 4,536,709 1999 8,490,617 301,730 8,792,347 –
2000 2,888,916 299,335 1,169,276 29,585 4,387,112 2000 8,114,371 305,551 8,419,922 -4.20
2001 2,993,609 370,936 1,172,786 28,881 4,566,212 2001 8,158,331 429,408 8,587,739 2.00
2002 2,170,820 337,788 891,002 29,282 3,428,892 2002 6,818,770 459,728 7,278,498 -15.20
2003 2,716,768 330,116 790,823 29,269 3,866,976 2003 7,848,243 538,831 8,387,074 15.20
2004 2,463,097 339,839 673,497 29,598 3,506,031 2004 7,611,057 697,786 8,308,843 -1.00
2005 1,846,623 204,713 727,295 25,749 2,804,380 2005 6,538,304 719,312 7,257,616 -12.60
2006 2,062,951 296,423 683,519 30,096 3,072,989 2006 6,256,619 705,201 6,961,820 -4.10
2007 2,121,208 212,162 951,722 16,872 3,301,964 2007 6,374,058 780,006 7,154,064 2.90
2008 1,176,488 30,820 284,603 11,668 1,503,579 2008 4,138,969 943,315 5,082,284 -29.00
2009 1,593,026 57,760 478,098 2,672 2,131,556 2009 4,652,595 945,952 5,598,547 10.16
2010 1,566,485 79,604 522,364 1,675 2,170,128 2010 4,761,787 949,394 5,711,181 2.01
2011 1,735,902 86,159 652,706 1,465 2,476,232 2011 5,202,601 1,033,269 6,235,870 9.19
2012 1,821,504 96,636 541,023 1,850 2,461,013 2012 5,344,748 1,269,752 6,614,500 6.07
2013 1,661,210 100,776 308,531 1,871 2,072,388 2013 5,067,482 1,263,150 6,330,632 -4.29
2014 1,777,756 95,141 326,342 6,365 2,205,604 2014 5,071,577 1,282,369 6,353,946 0.37
2015 2,059,053 84,781 325,638 720 2,470,193 2015 5,605,975 1,422,939 7,028,914 10.62
2016 2,062,106 85,849 376,871 925 2,525,751 2016 5,873,407 1,273,611 7,147,018 1.68
2017 2,135,854 87,899 442,467 400 2,666,620 2017 5,812,870 1,307,060 7,119,930 -0.38
2018 1,907,730 83,553 452,284 350 2,443,917 2018 5,684,527 1,111,559 6,796,086 -4.55
2019 2,096,500 81,827 337,211 367 2,515,905 2019 5,522,586 1,265,132 6,787,718 -0.12
2020 2,087,492 70,927 336,267 425 2,495,112 2020 4,991,013 1,048,718 6,039,731 -11.02
2021 2,253,131 74,730 338,855 271 2,666,987 2021 5,276,771 1,092,975 6,369,746 5.46
2022 2,456,731 80,130 341,279 246 2,878,386 2022 5,740,139 1,184,695 6,924,834 8.71
2023 1,138,841 22,422 85,272 22 1,246,557 2023 3,879,346 1,105,506 4,984,852 -28.01
2024 820,882 21,654 26,552 0 869,088 2024 3,291,328 983,040 4,274,368 -14.25
2025 1.556.284 69.590 120.214 0 1.746.088 2025 4.444.658 899.459 5.344.117 25,03
∆ 1999-2025 -1.416.412 -290.038 -1.054.119 -30.052 -61,51% ∆ 1999-2025 -4.045.959 597.729 -3.448.230 -39,22
∆ 2007-2025 -564.924 -142.572 -831.508 -16.872 -47,12% ∆ 2007-2025 -1.929.400 119.453 -1.809.947 -25,30
108 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 109
Table 17. Table 18. 
Evolution of total water consumption (potable and groundwater) Total water consumption (potable and groundwater) by
by Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space Figure 19. 20. Table 17. municipal services and departments (except SUMEP) Figure 19. 21. Table 18.
Green Street Ornamental Sewer Total SUMEP Buildings Zoo (m3) Municipal Institute Sports Other Total 
spaces (m3) cleaning (m3) fountains cleaning (m3) (m3) and markets of facilities buildings consumption 
(m3) facilities (m3) Culture (m3) (m3) (m3)
(m3) (m3)
1999 3,056,655 415,029 1,335,703 31,504 4,838,891
2004 913,895 889,900 316,465 58,841 * 1,925,925 4,105,026
2000 3,016,622 327,836 1,309,524 38,645 4,692,627
2005 906,912 764,520 291,142 48,570 * 1,722,730 3,733,874
2001 3,213,926 407,089 1,337,062 39,247 4,997,324
2002 2,390,331 413,299 1,038,692 46,298 3,888,620 2006 903,250 297,076 309,898 38,353 * 1,635,053 3,183,630
2003 2,987,935 409,827 961,715 46,330 4,405,807 2007 984,914 268,457 301,924 27,829 * 1,479,970 3,063,094
2004 2,836,140 417,637 852,510 97,530 4,203,817 2008 856,656 230,610 293,520 27,662 * 1,226,942 2,635,390
2005 2,135,613 351,696 878,990 157,443 3,523,742 2009 * 302,921 255,415 30,412 * 1,932,291 2,521,039
2006 2,348,124 435,670 831,366 163,030 3,778,190
2010 * 259,849 220,138 27,198 * 2,084,474 2,591,659
2007 2,400,778 404,756 1,119,895 165,541 4,090,970
2011 * 289,064 224,396 34,853 * 2,178,056 2,726,369
2008 1,503,886 337,139 462,311 143,558 2,446,894
2012 * 359,418 221,504 30,162 * 2,282,654 2,893,738
2009 1,950,054 330,314 703,135 94,005 3,077,508
2013 * 372,592 194,501 23,236 * 2,439,862 3,030,191
2010 1,919,211 358,908 734,209 107,194 3,119,522
2011 2,133,413 387,579 876,276 112,233 3,509,501 2014 * 374,861 174,882 36,744 * 2,413,665 3,000,152
2012 2,316,260 382,222 925,825 96,455 3,720,762 2015 * 548,526 194,223 31,629 * 2,496,783 3,271,161
2013 2,140,936 375,157 687,731 96,617 3,300,441 2016 *1 563,790 213,741 31,629 * 2,643,767 3,452,927
2014 2,154,715 401,680 677,937 119,462 3,353,795
2017 * 485,546 204,082 27,992 * 2,509,862 3,227,482
2015 2,487,190 412,116 766,914 91,533 3,757,753
2018 * 539,555 178,001 28,544 * 2,551,621 3,297,721
2016 2,521,622 435,406 666,252 70,811 3,694,091
2019 * 336,967 183,993 24,133 941,786 1,584,374 3,071,253
2017 2,639,443 418,050 777,094 57,861 3,892,448
2020 * 373,922 170,382 18,960 1,006,025 985,210 2,554,499
2018 2,282,465 408,367 748,455 59,077 3,498,365
2019 2,551,975 405,353 677,336 81,801 3,716,465 2021 * 328,016 172,388 21,983 712,117 1,437,068 2,671,571
2020 2,516,454 323,366 592,687 52,725 3,485,232 2022 * 491,247 176,680 22,793 573,092 2,233,867 3,497,679
2021 2,646,223 366,978 626,421 58,552 3,698,174 2023 * 378,918 166,473 23,087 * 2,138,096 2,706,574
2022 2,973,962 379,265 604,639 42,381 4,000,248 2024 * 280,926 161,388 23,186 484,627 2,007,686 2,957,813
2023 1,485,880 478,783 277,637 35,978 2,278,278
2025 * 259.986 160.828 32.736 484.627 1.816.191 2.754.368
2024 1,108,368 458,378 177,347 57,089 1,801,182
-629.914 -155.637 -26.105
2025 1.882.372 392.873 263.899 50.606 2.589.749
∆ 2004-2025
-70,78% -49,18% -44,37%
∆ 1999-2025 -38,42% -5,34% -80,24% 60,63 -46,48
∆ 2007-2025 -21,59% -2,94% -76,44% -69,43 -36,70
*Included in OTHER BUILDINGS
110 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 111
Table 19. Table 20. 
Consumption of groundwater in Barcelona Figure 23. Table 19. Monthly distribution of consumption of groundwater  
in Barcelona in 2025 Figure 24. Table 20.
Year Groundwater (m3) ∆ Previous year (%)
Month Total consumption (m3) %
1999 301,730 –
2000 305,551 1.27 January 76.591 8,5%
2001 429,408 40.54 February 67.370 7,5%
2002 4,59,728 7.06
March 55.420 6,2%
2003 538,831 17.21
2004 697,786 29.50 April 69.002 7,7%
2005 719,312 3.08
May 75.532 8,4%
2006 705,201 -1.96
June 95.911 10,7%
2007 780,006 10.61
2008 943,315 20.94 July 135.896 15,1%
2009 945,952 0.28
August 94.659 10,5%
2010 949,394 0.36
2011 1,033,269 8.83 September 81.809 9,1%
2012 1,269,752 22.89 October 60.773 6,8%
2013 1,263,150 -0.52
November 46.551 5,2%
2014 1,282,369 1.52
2015 1,422,939 10.96 December 39.946 4,4%
2016 1,273,611 -10.49
Total 899.459 100%
2017 1,307,060 2.63
2018 1,111,559 -14.96
2019 1,265,132 13.82
2020 1,048,718 -17.11
2021 1,092,975 4.22
2022 1,184,695 8.39
2023 1,105,506 -6.68
2024 983,040 -11.08
2025 899.459 -8,50
Acumulated total 25.319.448
∆ 1999-2025 198,10%
∆ 2007-2025 15,31%
112 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 113
Table 21. Table 22. 
Evolution of the sustainability index of Barcelona City Council and Urban Services Consumption of groundwater for municipal use Figure 26. 27. Table 22.
and Maintenance of Public Space (SUMEP) Figure 25. Table 21.
Year Green Street Ornamental Sewer Other Total for Total 
3 3
Year Barcelona City Council Urban Services and Maintenance of Public spaces cleaning fountains cleaning (m ) uses (m ) Barcelona SUMEP
3 3 3
sustainability index (%) Space sustainability index (%) (m ) (m ) (m ) City Council
1999 83,959 55,401 161,370 1,452 302,182 302,182
1999 3.43 2.76
2000 127,706 28,501 140,248 9,060 305,515 305,515
2000 3.63 4.23
2001 220,317 36,153 164,276 10,366 431,112 431,112
2001 5.00 6.80 2002 219,511 75,511 147,690 17,016 459,728 459,728
2002 6.32 9.18 2003 271,167 79,711 170,892 17,061 538,831 538,831
2003 6.42 9.08 2004 373,043 77,798 179,013 67,932 697,786 697,786
2005 288,990 146,983 151,695 131,694 719,362 719,362
2004 8.40 13.15
2006 285,173 139,247 147,847 132,934 705,201 705,201
2005 9.91 13.31
2007 279,570 192,594 168,173 148,669 789,006 789,006
2006 10.13 12.18 2008 327,398 306,319 177,708 131,890 943,315 943,315
2007 11.01 11.64 2009 357,028 272,554 225,037 91,333 945,952 945,952
2008 18.56 21.77 2010 352,726 279,304 211,845 105,519 949,394 949,394
2011 397,511 301,420 223,570 110,768 0 1,033,269 1,033,269
2009 16.90 48.51
2012 494,756 285,586 384,802 94,605 10,003 1,269,752 1,259,749
2010 16.62 49.47
2013 479,726 274,381 379,200 94,746 35,097 1,263,150 1,228,053
2011 16.57 48.43
2014 376,959 306,539 351,595 113,097 134,179 1,282,369 1,148,190
2012 19.20 54.39 2015 428,137 327,334 441,276 90,813 135,379 1,422,939 1,287,560
2013 19.95 57.36 2016 459,516 349,557 289,381 69,886 105,271 1,273,611 1,168,340
2014 20.18 53.29 2017 503,589 330,151 334,627 57,461 81,233 1,307,061 1,225,828
2018 374,735 324,814 296,171 58,727 57,111 1,111,559 1,054,448
2015 20.24 51.77
2019 455,475 323,525 340,125 81,435 64,572 1,265,132 1,200,560
2016 18.18 46.33
2020 428,962 252,439 256,420 52,300 58,597 1,048,718 990,120
2017 18.36 46.44 2021 393,092 292,248 287,566 58,281 61,787 1,092,975 1,031,187
2018 16.36 30.14 2022 517,231 299,135 263,360 42,135 62,834 1,184,695 1,121,861
2019 18.64 32.30 2023 347,039 456,361 192,365 35,956 73,786 1,105,506 1,031,721
2024 287,486 436,724 150,795 57,089 50,946 983,040 932,094
2020 17.36 28.41
2025 326.088 323.283 143.685 50.606 55.798 899.459 843.661
2021 17.16 27.88
Accumulated 9.456.891 6.573.573 6.380.731 1.932.830 986.594 25.330.619 24.344.026
2022 17.11 28.04 total
% of 37% 26% 25% 8% 4%
2023 22.18 45.29 accumulated 
total
2024 23.00 51.75
% of total 36,3% 35,9% 16,0% 5,6% 6,2%
2025 16,83 32,58 (2024)
114 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 115
Table 23. Table 24. 
Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space total water consumption (potable Evolution of the sustainability index of the different municipal uses  
and groundwater) and sustainability index Figure 28. Table 23. of Urban Services and Maintenance of Public Space (SUMEP) Figure 29. Table 24.
Year SUMEP SUMEP SUMEP total SUMEP Year Green spaces Street Ornamental Sewer cleaning (%)
groundwater potable water potable and sustainability (%) cleaning (%) fountains (%)
consumption consumption groundwater index (m3)
(m3) (m3) (m3)
1999 2.76 13.34 12.08 3.17
1999 302,182 4,536,709 4,838,891 2.76 2000 4.23 8.69 10.71 23.44
2000 305,515 4,387,112 4,692,627 4.23
2001 6.80 8.88 12.28 26.41
2001 431,112 4,566,212 4,997,324 6.8
2002 9.18 18.27 14.22 36.75
2002 459,728 3,428,892 3,888,620 9.18
2003 538,831 3,866,976 4,405,807 9.08 2003 9.08 19.45 17.77 36.94
2004 697,786 3,506,031 4,203,817 13.15 2004 13.15 18.63 21.00 71.90
2005 719,362 2,804,380 3,523,742 13.31 2005 13.31 41.79 17.26 84.52
2006 705,201 3,072,989 3,778,190 12.18
2006 12.18 31.96 17.78 81.54
2007 789,006 3,301,964 4,090,970 11.64
2007 11.64 47.58 15.02 89.80
2008 943,315 1,503,579 2,446,894 21.77
2008 21.77 90.85 38.44 91.87
2009 945,952 2,131,556 3,077,508 48.51
2010 949,394 2,170,128 3,119,522 49.47 2009 18.31 82.51 32.00 97.16
2011 1,033,269 2,476,232 3,509,501 48.43 2010 18.38 77.82 28.85 98.44
2012 1,259,749 2,461,013 3,720,762 54.39 2011 18.63 77.77 25.51 98.69
2013 1,228,053 2,072,388 3,300,441 57.36
2012 21.36 74.72 41.56 98.08
2014 1,148,190 2,205,604 3,353,795 53.29
2013 22.41 73.14 55.14 98.06
2015 1,287,560 2,470,193 3,757,753 51.77
2016 1,168,340 2,525,751 3,694,091 46.33 2014 17.49 76.31 51.86 94.67
2017 1,225,828 2,666,620 3,892,448 46.44 2015 17.21 79.43 57.54 99.21
2018 1,054,448 2,443,917 3,498,364 30.14 2016 18.22 80.28 43.43 98.69
2019 1,200,560 2,515,905 3,716,465 32.30
2017 19.08 78.97 43.06 99.31
2020 990,120 2,495,112 3,485,232 28.41
2018 16.42 79.54 39.57 99.41
2021 1,031,187 2,666,987 3,698,174 27.88
2019 17.85 79.81 43.26 99.55
2022 1,121,861 2,878,386 4,000,248 28.04
2023 1,031,721 1,246,557 2,278,278 45.29 2020 17.05 78.07 50.22 99.19
2024 932,094 869,088 1,801,182 51.75 2021 14.85 79.64 45.91 99.54
2025 843.661 1.746.088 2.589.749 32,58 2022 17.39 78.87 43.56 99.42
Accumulated 23.500.364 71.270.280 94.770.645
total 2023 23.36 95.32 69.29 99.94
∆ 1999-2025 179% -62% -46,48% 2024 25.94 95.28 85.03 100.00
∆ 2007-2025 7% -47% -37%
2025 17,32 82,29 54,45 100,00
116 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 117
Table 25. Table 26. 
Total water consumption (potable and groundwater)  Distribution of groundwater consumption  
of green spaces and sustainability index Figure 30. Table 25. for watering green areas and other uses in 2025 Figure 31. Table 26.
YEAR Groundwater Potable water Total potable Sustainability Use Consumption (m3) %
consumption consumption water + index (%)
(m3) (m3) groundwater 
(m3)
Hydrants 29.839 7,8%
1999 83,959 2,972,696 3,056,655 2.76
2000 127,706 2,888,916 3,016,622 4.23 Irrigation 296.249 77,6%
2001 220,317 2,993,609 3,213,926 6.8
2002 219,511 2,170,820 2,390,331 9.18 Green spaces 326.088
2003 271,167 2,716,768 2,987,935 9.08
Fòrum building 5.771 1,5%
2004 373,043 2,463,097 2,836,140 13.15
2005 288,990 1,846,623 2,135,613 13.31 Jardí Botànic 7.290 1,9%
2006 285,173 2,062,951 2,348,124 12.18
2007 279,570 2,121,208 2,400,778 11.64 Antic Jardí Botànic 0 0,0%
2008 327,398 1,176,488 1,503,886 21.77
Sports facilities 11.010 2,9%
2009 357,028 1,593,026 1,950,054 18.31
2010 352,726 1,566,485 1,919,211 18.38 Other impacts 31.727 8,3%
2011 397,511 1,735,902 2,133,413 18.63
2012 494,756 1,821,504 2,316,260 21.36 Subtotal 55.798
2013 479,726 1,661,210 2,140,936 22.41
Total 381.886 100,0%
2014 376,959 1,777,756 2,154,715 17.49
2015 428,137 2,059,053 2,487,190 17.21
2016 459,516 2,062,106 2,521,622 18.22
2017 503,589 2,135,854 2,639,443 19.08
2018 374,735 1,907,730 2,282,465 16.42
2019 455,475 2,096,500 2,551,975 17.85
2020 428,962 2,087,492 2,516,454 17.05
2021 393,092 2,253,131 2,646,223 14.85
2022 517,231 2,456,731 2,973,962 17.39
2023 347,039 1,138,841 1,485,880 23.36
2024 287,486 820,882 1,108,368 25.94
2025 326.088 1.556.284 1.882.372 17,32
Accumulated 9.456.891 54.143.663 63.600.553,70
total
∆ 1999-2025 288% -48%
∆ 2007-2025 17% -27%
118 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 119
Table 27. Table 28. 
Total water consumption (potable and groundwater)  Total water consumption (potable and groundwater)  
for street cleaning and sustainability index Figure 37. Table 27. for ornamental fountains and sustainability index Figure 38. Table 28.
YEAR Groundwater Potable water Total potable Sustainability YEAR Groundwater Potable water Total potable Sustainability 
consumption consumption water + index (%) consumption consumption water + index (%)
(m3) (m3) groundwater (m3) (m3) groundwater (m3)
(m3)
1999 161,370 1,174,333 1,335,703 12.08
1999 55,401 359,628 415,029 13.35
2000 140,248 1,169,276 1,309,524 10.71
2000 28,501 299,335 327,836 8.69
2001 164,276 1,172,786 1,337,062 12.29
2001 36,153 370,936 407,089 8.88
2002 147,690 891,002 1,038,692 14.22
2002 75,511 337,788 413,299 18.27
2003 170,892 790,823 961,715 17.77
2003 79,711 330,116 409,827 19.45
2004 179,013 673,497 852,510 21.00
2004 77,798 339,839 417,637 18.63
2005 151,695 727,295 878,990 17.26
2005 146,983 204,713 351,696 41.79
2006 147,847 683,519 831,366 17.78
2006 139,247 296,423 435,670 31.96
2007 168,173 951,722 1,119,895 15.02
2007 192,594 212,162 404,756 47.58
2008 177,708 284,603 462,311 38.44
2008 306,319 30,820 337,139 90.86
2009 225,037 478,098 703,135 32.00
2009 272,554 57,760 330,314 82.51
2010 211,845 522,364 734,209 28.85
2010 279,304 79,604 358,908 77.82
2011 223,570 652,706 876,276 25.51
2011 301,420 86,159 387,579 77.77
2012 384,802 541,023 925,825 41.56
2011 285,586 96,636 382,222 74.72
2013 379,200 308,531 687,731 55.14
2013 274,381 100,776 375,157 73.14
2014 351,595 326,342 677,937 51.86
2014 306,539 95,141 401,680 76.31
2015 441,276 325,638 766,914 57.54
2015 327,334 84,781 412,116 79.43
2016 289,381 376,871 666,252 43.43
2016 349,557 85,849 435,406 80.28
2017 334,627 442,467 777,094 43.06
2017 330,151 87,899 418,050 78.97
2018 296,171 452,284 748,455 39.57
2018 324,814 83,553 408,367 79.54
2019 340,125 337,211 677,336 50.22
2019 323,525 81,827 405,353 79.81
2020 256,420 336,267 592,687 43.26
2020 252,439 70,927 323,366 78.07
2021 287,566 338,855 626,421 45.91
2021 292,248 74,730 366,978 79.64
2022 263,360 341,279 604,639 43.56
2022 299,135 80,130 379,265 78.87
2023 192,365 85,272 277,637 69.29
2023 456,361 22,422 478,783 95.32
2024 150,795 26,552 177,347 85.03
2024 436,724 21,654 458,378 95.28
2025 143.685 120.214 263.899 54,45
2025 323.283 69.590 392.873 82,29
Accumulated 6.380.731 13.356.497
Accumulated 6.573.573 4.061.199 total
total
∆ 1999-2025 -11% -90%
∆ 1999-2025 484% -81%
∆ 2007-2025 -15% -87%
∆ 2007-2025 68% -67%
120 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 121
Table 29.
Total water consumption (potable and groundwater)  
for sewers and sustainability index Figure 39. Table 29.
YEAR Groundwater Potable water Total potable Sustainability 
consumption consumption water + index (%)
(m3) (m3) groundwater (m3)
1999 1,452 30,052 31,504 4.61
2000 9,060 29,585 38,645 23.44
2001 10,366 28,881 39,247 26.41
2002 17,016 29,282 46,298 36.75
2003 17,061 29,269 46,330 36.82
2004 67,932 29,598 97,530 71.90
2005 131,694 25,749 157,443 84.52
2006 132,934 30,096 163,030 81.54
2007 148,669 16,872 165,541 89.80
2008 131,890 11,668 143,558 91.87
2009 91,333 2,672 94,005 97.16
2010 105,519 1,675 107,194 98.44
2011 110,768 1,465 112,233 98.69
2012 94,605 1,850 96,455 98.08
2013 94,746 1,871 96,617 98.06
2014 113,097 6,365 119,462 94.67
2015 90,813 720 91,533 99.21
2016 69,886 925 70,811 98.69
2017 57,461 400 57,861 99.31
2018 58,727 350 59,077 99.41
2019 81,435 367 81,801 99.55
2020 52,300 425 52,725 99.19
2021 58,281 271 58,552 99.54
2022 42,135 246 42,381 99.42
2023 35,956 22 35,978 99.94
2024 57,089 0  57,089 100.00
2025 50.606 0  50.606 100,00
Accumulated 1.932.830 280.677
total
∆ 1999-2025 3385% -100%
∆ 2007-2025 -66% -100%
122 Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua SA Water consumption in Barcelona 2025 123
Water consumption in Barcelona Barcelona Cicle de l’Aigua Acer, 16
Use and usages of water Department of Planning and 08038 Barcelona
resources Innovation Tel.: 932 896 800
2025 Urban Services and Maintenance www.bcasa.cat
of Public Space