Inadequate rainfall

While northern Spain receives adequate rainfall, the remaining three-quarters of the country is typically in great need of precipitation. According to 1993 projections by the Spanish government, the country's urban populations will need 45% more water, its industry 30% more water and its agriculture 14% more water in the next 20 years. In order to accommodate these needs and resist the forces of inadequate rainfall, the Spanish government proposed large-scale construction of dams and reservoirs, expected to cost more than $30 billion.