Asturias and León face a water management push as Pajares tunnel work continues
ADIF will need to repair damage to several aquifers affected by the Pajares ring road project in León, but officials say there will be no delays to the anticipated arrival of the high-speed line in Asturias this November, as the Ministry of Transport has promised. The Principality’s spokesperson yesterday, Adrian Barbon, stressed that the ministry has assured him there will be no postponement. He added that if there is even a hint of a delay, he will publicly oppose it with the strongest possible objections.
The public project’s rollout, known as Variant, has carried the burden of a 13-year lag beyond its original timeline, which aimed for a 2010 opening. Fears of renewed postponement arose after a recent order from the Ministry for Ecological Transition published in the Official State Gazette. The order requires ADIF to repair the environmental damage caused by the excavation and operation of the Pajares tunnels, addressing the breach of several underground aquifers that feed towns, farms, and protected natural areas of significant ecological value.
The core issue traces back to 2007, during the initial tunneling work for Pajares, when leaks and surface runoff channels appeared at levels far above those projected. Investigations indicated the presence of uncontrolled drainage flowing from the Duero river basin into the Cantabrian Huerna sub-basin, with an average discharge around 319 liters per second. That volume translates to roughly 10,000 cubic meters annually—surpassing the storage capacity of the Alfilorios reservoir, which supplies drinking water to central Asturias, including Oviedo.
The fallout from these seepages extended beyond water scarcity. Local streams diminished, impacting domestic use and agriculture, and causing damage to soils, peat bogs, crops, vegetation, and sensitive fauna environments. The Ministry responded to multiple complaints from affected communities and associations, including Lacerta and the Federation of Small Local Entities in León. It ordered a comprehensive assessment of ADIF’s work, a full sealing program for cracks and leaks, a reduction in water transfers between León and Asturias, and measures to safeguard water supplies for residents while compensating those who suffered losses.
Estimates from stakeholders put the likely financial burden at around 30 million euros to fulfill the accommodation and remediation requirements, with an additional roughly 2 million euros per year needed to operate and maintain pumps and other water-management installations that must be built or upgraded to support the region’s needs.
Authorities emphasize that the objective is to secure reliable water access for communities and farms while completing the Pajares project. The balance between finishing the high-speed rail plus protecting essential water resources remains a priority for regional and national authorities, who seek to reconcile infrastructure development with ecological stewardship and local water security.