Seville, (EFE).- The rains registered in Andalusia, although with greater intensity in the eastern zone, since the middle of last week, have provided a small relief to the agricultural sector of the countryside, but have not helped to reverse the critical situation of the swamps, except that of Cuevas de Almanzora in Almería after the rainfall last Tuesday discharged more than 327 liters per square meter in municipalities of that region.
However, the basins that supply Andalusia have had a global decrease in the last week of 40 cubic hectometres -hm3- (0.33% less water). And comparing the situation with that of a year ago, they register 136 hm3 less until they accumulate 3,279 hm3 of dammed water. Which represents 27.39% of the total capacity.
The most significant changes in the last seven days occurred in the eastern part of the province of Almería. In which up to 200 liters per square meter have accumulated in the last 24 hours. As well as the water fall in the province of Malaga (44 liters per square meter on average).
Intra-community basins
In fact, the reservoirs in the intra-community basins (Andalusian Mediterranean, Guadalete-Barbate and Tinto-Odiel-Piedras) have lowered their reserves in the last week. Except for Cuevas de Almanzora, which has increased by 6.5 cubic hectometres. And it is expected that it will reach fifteen hm3 with the waters coming from the runoff.
The rest of the reservoirs in said basin have seen their reserves decrease, led by those in the province of Cádiz. That they have lost 8 hm3 and are at 27.2% of their capacity. Followed by those in the province of Huelva, which have decreased by 5 hm3 and accumulates reserves of 43.5%.
The reservoirs of the inter-community basins of the provinces of Malaga and Granada have lost one cubic hectometre each in one week. And they are at 33% and 59.8% of their capacity.
By basin, in the Andalusian Mediterranean the dammed water has decreased in a week by another 8 hm3, 0.69% less. And it is at 404 hm3 (34.89% of its total capacity). Guadalete-Barbate continues to decrease in its reserves by 9 hm3 (0.55% and stands at 431 hm3 (26.65%). And that of Tinto-Odiel-PiedrasChanza has 502 hm3 of dammed resources (45% of its capacity).Tas a new decrease of 8 hm3 (0.72% less).
The Guadalquivir river basin
For its part, the Guadalquivir river basin district -which covers more than 60% of the territory of the autonomous community- is at 24.18% of its capacity. Having decreased by 15 hm3 in the last week, to 1,942 hm3 (0.19%).
In statements to EFE, Eduardo Martín, general secretary of Asaja Sevilla, welcomed the arrival of the rains, which were “very necessary and are more than welcome since a long cycle of more than 150 days without rain in general has been broken ”and, in addition, he has highlighted that there are prospects of rain for ten or twelve more days.
He explained that they have been very beneficial for the grove and for some crops such as cotton, sunflower and some vegetables, despite the fact that in some provinces the hail has caused significant damage, such as in the Sevillian towns of Los Palacios and Lebrija, and also in Trebujena (Cádiz) and in towns in Malaga.
He lamented that the rains have been “short in quality and quantity because they have not contributed to increasing the dammed water”, which is one of the “big problems” of the agricultural sector, and he added that it would have to rain a lot more for it to enter water in the reservoirs.
The intense hailstorm that fell this Thursday in Los Palacios (Seville) has caused damage of between six and eight million to the farms of approximately five hundred small farmers and has affected some 2,000 hectares of crops such as watermelons, tomatoes, almonds, olives and table grapes. EFE