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Date Published: 23/01/2024

January rains barely top up desperately dry Andalusia reservoirs

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Despite the downpours, most of Andalucía’s vital water storage facilities are operating in a deficit

January rains barely top up desperately dry Andalusia reservoirs

All of Andalucía was under a deluge of rain last week but it seems these recent downpours have done little to replenish the water supply in the region’s reservoirs, and several communities are still facing usage restrictions.

Although the countryside got a soaking last week, the reality is that only three of Andalucía’s vital reservoirs have stopped losing water in recent days. Supply levels in the rest continue to fall.

According to data from the Hidrosur Network, the Concepción reservoir has been the primary beneficiary of storm Juan, with its water level increasing by 0.16 cubic hectometres compared to a week ago, which represents 22.9% of its capacity.

The Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir follows closely, having risen from 11.27 to 11.33 cubic hectometres, a gain of 0.6 that puts it at 17% of its capacity.

In third place, the La Viñuela reservoir has experienced a modest increase of 0.3 cubic hectometres, going from 12.23 to 12.26, which corresponds to 7.5% of its capacity.

However, essential water supplies from the storage facilities of the Guadalteba, the Guadalhorce, the Limonero and the Casasola reservoirs continue to dwindle at an alarming rate.

According to Ecologistas en Acción, the Andalucía water deficit is not only down to the ongoing absence of rain, but also to excess demand on the available resources. The environmentalists have now called for a drastic change in the agro-industrial, energy and tourism model to alleviate the pressure on the reservoirs.

To address water scarcity, the group has stressed the need for “responsible policies” to curtail intensive irrigation and tropical crop cultivation in Andalucía, which have resulted in overexploitation and the pollution of aquifers, as well as the planning of massive urban developments along the coast without ensuring access to potable water.

Possible solutions, according to Ecologistas en Acción, include measures aimed at gradually reducing irrigated areas, abandoning new dam and reservoir projects, implementing tertiary treatment systems based on circular economy principles and powered by renewable energy, and promoting desalination.

Join our Andalucia Weather Watch Facebook group for regular weather and climate change updates

Image: Freepik

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