Can I swim in swamps, reservoirs and rivers in Spain?

Spain has long been known for its thousands of miles of coastlines. Spending a day on the beach and taking a dip in the Mediterranean or Atlantic is a pastime of locals and tourists alike, however it's not the only place you can swim in Spain.

With the growing popularity of 'wild swimming', many people now also choose rivers, reservoirs or even swamps to enjoy. An added benefit of this is that you don't have to stick to the coast and can find bodies of water anywhere in inland Spain.

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Can I swim in swamps, reservoirs and rivers in Spain?

The first thing to know is that swimming in any surface water is generally permitted under Article 50.1 of Spain's Ley de Aguas.

'Surface water' is defined by law as rivers, springs, lakes, and so on, basically any open water on public land. Royal Decree 1341/2007 defines swimming or bathing waters as those surface waters which are visited by large groups of people or where swimming-related activities take place and there are no bans or dangers to the public.

Looking at the relevant clauses of Article 50 specifically, the law states.

1. Everyone may, without administrative authorisation and in accordance with the provisions of the laws and regulations, use surface water, while it flows through its natural channels, for drinking, bathing and other domestic uses, as well as for watering livestock.
2. These common uses must be carried out in such a way that they do not alter the quality and flow of the water. In the case of water flowing through artificial channels, they shall also be subject to the limitations arising from the protection of the aqueduct. Under no circumstances may water be diverted from its channels or beds, and the normal regime of use must be respected.

So, put simply: yes, you can swim pretty much anywhere, as long as you don't swim in banned areas (more on that below) or do anything to disrupt or pollute the water source.

But are there rules?

Yes, there are rules that exist beyond these general guidelines. As is often the case in Spain, these powers are devolved to regional governments and can depend on where you are in the country.

This essentially means that rules with regard to swimming and bathing areas and, therefore, decisions on the rules, especially banned areas, are done on a regional rather than national level.

That is to say: be sure to check the rules with your regional government before swimming in bodies of water off the beaten path.

In certain parts of the country, swimming in banned areas can lead to hefty fines. In Madrid, for example, swimming in rivers or reservoirs where the regional authority has banned it can be punishable with fines of up to €3,000, according to Madrid Secreto.

Why might swimming be banned in certain places?

Though the general rules are yes, you can swim in rivers and reservoirs and pretty much wherever else you like, there are certain conditions under which it may be banned:

• For health protection reasons due to reasons of poor water quality.
• When the beach and/or water does not meet the quality requirements of water regulations.
• Swimming may also be prohibited due to the existence of obvious dangers or impracticalities in the area, such as improvement or cleaning works.
• For environmental conservation reasons, access to these areas may also be restricted or prohibited.

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