Inside Dryest summer since 1965the year the first records began, Spanish irrigationists measure water more than ever they fed their fields with it. According to data from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Control (MITECO), 34.2% of the few reserves left in the marshes at the end of the water year are about to take a new ‘bite’ in the basins. On the border with Portugal. Before October 1, Duero, Guadiana, Tajo and Miño-Sil must finish transferring the tribute they owe Portugal Cases where data on specific quantities are not formally available pursuant to the Albufeira Agreement.
The agreement is an international agreement signed in 1998, and twenty-four years later, it continues to mark the contributions Spanish reservoirs must make to Portuguese reserves based on rainfall. If the annual rate is less than 65% of historical dramasIt’s recognized that it’s been a dry year and transfers are less, but the problem comes when the figure is barely exceeded, as this was in 2022.
This year’s rate was 67.88%, as explained to El Periódico de España by the irrigation associations. We’re not saying we don’t want to contribute, we’ve always done it and we find it logical but There is no point in making the same contribution as 67% to 85%.. The agreement is more than twenty years old, the world of that time is not the world of today and it needs updating,” Manuel Mantecón, general secretary of the Duero Basin Irrigation Communities Association (FerDuero), explains to this newspaper.
The basins included in the treaty, namely Miño-Sil (46.7% of its capacity), Tajo (36.7%), Duero (35.8%) and Guadiana (23.9%), with this last part of one of the driest face to face. water years in history with uncertainty. Because of what they have now and how little some will save for the dry season next year, because Aemet has already assured that it exists. most likely temperatures will stay high throughout the fall and also, in the central and western regions there is a “40% to 60% probability. less rain usual”.
“We are angry because we had a very bad campaign. Since we have the weather in hand, we measured the water we use so that we can have a reserve for next year and ensure that the next harvest is irrigated. We save and save and eventually they come in at the end of summer and take some of that savings. for what? For electricThe irrigation campaign has actually come to an end in both countries,” says Mantecón.
According to the latest report of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Control dated September 13, Spain’s water reserve is currently at 34.2% of its capacity and has lost 0.8% of 462 cubic hectometers in just one week. . In Zamora, for example, the discharge policy pursued by the Duero Hydrographic Confederation reporting to MITECO would leave the Ricobayo reservoir reserves at 16%.
Performances in Leon
There, the Almendra reservoir, which feeds an area of about 12,000 people, will also have to give up 400 cubic hectometers during September, nearly half (862 hm3) of water currently in the reservoirs.
The Tormes River that feeds this reservoir is a tributary of the Duero, and a few kilometers away, in the León region, irrigation farmers called for a demonstration this Monday to protest the terms of the Albufeira Agreement. . they think about it current environmental situation is not the same When signed in 1998, they denounced that there is no guarantee that the water will be used for human consumption or irrigation, but will instead be used to generate electricity.
This is an absolutely key point for the Irrigation Communities Association, because according to them, 80% should be guaranteed to be used for human consumption and 20% for energy production. “What will happen next year when we can’t find enough water to feed the crops?Herminio Medina, head of the Páramo Irrigators community, asked him this Monday during meetings between the associations, the sub-delegate of the Government, and the head of the León Provincial Council.
“We wouldn’t say one thing if that water was needed for irrigation or supply, but for energy it’s something else. the water we save, we paid for reservoirs, exploitation… And everything so that these resources do not go to the consumption of the user, but to generate electricity. It feels a little bad to us because that water is turbined at least 15 or 20 times before it reaches the sea, and that means money, money and money, so don’t fool us“, says El Periódico de España Ángel González, spokesperson for the National Federation of Irrigation Communities (Fenacore).
Tension over water distribution has reached the point where protesters are considering going to the Riaño reservoir in León, but the truth is, the problem has a hard solution Due to the fact that it is an international agreement that Spain cannot unilaterally consider violating or modifying. To update, Portugal must be ready to negotiate.
Criticism for release
Relations between the two countries are good in this regard, and both administrations agreed at a meeting at the beginning of the year. strengthen coordination However, affected farmers want to press their grievances to be heard, especially as this year has shown that water resources can be reduced due to climate change, but also because of the policy followed until time to collect the water. necessary to meet commitments.
In its statements to La Opinion de Zamora, a newspaper belonging to the same publishing group, the Asaja agricultural organization rejected the “Spanish Government’s evacuation policy”. “In the last 30 days they have drained the Santa Teresa reservoir, the Almendra reservoir, and now swamp discharge It has also been announced that the rivers of Esla (Riaño and Porma) and the Ricobayo reservoir will be released,” Asaja warns.