Water reserves on the up

Abundant precipitation is boosting the reservoirs

RESERVOIRS serving the south-east of Spain reached a new six-year high this week.

The latest figures for the Segura basin – which has been under emergency measures for drought since 2015 – show that the reservoirs now stand at an average of 42% of total capacity, compared with 29% at the same time last year.

During the height of the water shortage crisis three years ago the level had plummeted to just 12% and the government turned the tap off for many farmers to guarantee the supply for homes.

Periods of heavy rain and snow over the last year – particularly in inland areas where the majority of the reservoirs in the Segura basin are situated – have further replenished the supplies.

The latest report from the Segura river and water authority (CHS) indicates that the largest reservoir in the basin –

Cenajo, which straddles the border between the provinces of Murcia and Albacete – is at 49% of total capacity, with 215 cubic hectometres (hm3) of water stored.

The second largest – which is La Pedrera in Orihuela – is just 31% full, with 76 hm3 of water stored.

The CHS is expecting rainfall and snow in inland areas during this week to bring further relief to the reservoirs which serve the south of Alicante

province, Murcia and Almería.

North of the province

Reservoirs in the Júcar basin, which serve the centre and north of Alicante province, are currently at 50.7% of total capacity compared with 43.7% at the same time last year.

However, the Júcar basin is still down on its 10-year average, which is 53.4% of total capacity.