ARCHIVED - Stormwater tank overflowing in Los Alcázares

Runoff water from the Campo de Cartagena flowing into the Mar Menor

With the Region of Murcia in the grip of the torrential rain and snow brought by Storm Gloria to the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula the most immediate concern is of course for citizen safety, but at the same time it is inevitable after the events of the last few months that a close watch is being kept on the runoff water making its way from the farmland of the Campo de Cartagena into the Mar Menor.

La #RambladelaMaraña esta mañana, frente #LosAlcázares pic.twitter.com/KxVuH7UgsL

— Melón deT.Pacheco (@MelonT_Pacheco) January 21, 2020

Following the destructive gota fría storm of September last year runoff water was held largely responsible for the sudden deterioration in the water quality in the lagoon, a phenomenon which has been having an cumulative effect for the last 40 years. This effect is accelerated in times of flooding as the floodwater carries with it nutrients and fertilizers from the farmland of the Campo de Cartagena.

For this reason eyes now turn to the Mar Menor every time there is heavy rain in the area, and on Tuesday morning it is reported that the stormwater tank in Los Alcázares is once again overflowing. At the same time, the Rambla de la Marrana, which carries floodwater from Torre Pacheco towards Los Alcázares and the Mar Menor has become a torrent, the flow of water from inland being added to by the floodwater tank near its mouth.

As yet there have been no reports of yet more serious flooding in Los Alcázares on Tuesday morning after the emergencies of September and December 2019, although there is widespread minor flooding.

For more local news, events and other information go to the Los Alcázares section of Murcia Today.

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