Seville, (EFE).- The Government Council of the Junta de Andalucía approved a third Drought Decree for the region on Tuesday. It will involve the mobilization of 163 million euros with the aim of achieving an extraordinary water supply of 184 cubic hectometres for supply and irrigation.
In a press conference after the Andalusian Government Council, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Water and Sustainable Development, Carmen Crespo, reported that this new decree, which is being implemented to combat the “dramatic” situation of the region due to the “shortage” of water, it will promote, mainly, new works to “use reclaimed water”, the execution of “pipes”, the “improvement of supply”, the search for “new water sources” or the “reduction of the losses” of water.
Specifically, Crespo has detailed that this new decree contemplates “25 new hydraulic infrastructures”. For an amount of 120 million euros. Of which 40 percent advance in the “tertiary treatment plants” to obtain “reclaimed water” for irrigation.
These actions will be carried out in the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in the provinces of Málaga, Huelva, Almería and Granada, mainly. And it will allow “to complete those that are being carried out and other new ones,” said the counselor.
hydrological plans
Crespo has indicated that the decree will act in the Tinto-Odiel-Piedras basin with projects such as the “improvement” in the El Andévalo dam. With the objective of “mobilizing 100 hm3” that guarantee the supply “to the citizens of the area” and to the “farmers” of that community of irrigators. While in the Guadalete-Barbate basin, actions are contemplated to “avoid water losses” and improve the supply in the Campo de Gibraltar.
Regarding the measures in the Andalusian Mediterranean basins, Crespo highlighted the projects to improve the “interconnection of the systems of the western Costa del Sol and Guadalhorce-Limonero”. While he has pointed out that measures will be taken to “assist the regions of Los Pedroches (Córdoba) and the Costa Tropical of Granada.”
Specifically, given the lack of drinking water in the north of Córdoba, the Board proposes the improvement of the DWTP of Sierra Boyera with “an agreement with the Diputación de Córdoba and the confederations of the Guadalquivir and Guadiana”. While in Granada it is intended to finance “part of the Rules pipes”.
In addition, the counselor explained that the “hydrological plans for the three Andalusian basins” have been approved. Tinto-Odiel-Piedras, Guadalete-Barbate and Andalusian Mediterranean Basins, for the 2022-2027 horizon. And that they will be sent to the Ministry of Ecological Transition for approval, “if there are no problems” in the Council of Ministers “as soon as possible”.
Less than 30% dammed water
The great objective is to “adapt these plans” to the demands for water. And that they “continue to develop and grow”. To “maintain the underground and surface water bodies of dependent ecosystems and protected areas in good condition.”
In this sense, Crespo has warned that Andalusia has 3,457 hm3 of dammed water. This represents 28.87% of the total capacity and a decrease of 47 hm3 compared to the last week. While just a year ago the region had “858 hm3 more than today.”
Specifically, the Guadalquivir river basin district is at 25.21% of its capacity, with 2,024 hm3, a decrease of 0.36%. In the Andalusian Mediterranean basins it has decreased by another 5 hm3 in one week and in the Guadalete-Barbate demarcation the decrease is 8 hm3 in the same period. While the Tinto-Odiel-Piedras-Chanza basin has 533 hm3, 47.80% of its capacity, after a drop of 5 hm3 in the last seven days. EFE