The southeastern portion of Spain faces the threat of sustained drought, a risk that threatens water supplies for farming which is a cornerstone of the regional economy. In Alicante, Murcia and Almería, agriculture is a key economic driver, contributing around 10% of the area’s GDP.
Water availability is expected to decline further in the coming months as the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge weighs a plan to raise the ecological flow of the Tagus River through Toledo and Aranjuez to 8.5 cubic meters per second. If enacted, this could reduce water transferred from the Tajo to the Segura by roughly 105 cubic meters, affecting irrigation and supplies in the southeast.
In this context, communities pursue irrigation and supply solutions. The newspaper, co-edited with BİLGİ ACCIONA, hosted a conference titled “Desalination for agriculture, a sustainable model.” Experts discussed the current water situation and weighed the advantages and drawbacks of desalination for agricultural use. Participants included Manuel Navarro, Director of ACCIONA’s Water Cycle; Joaquín Melgarejo, Director and Coordinator of the Water Chair at the University of Alicante; Belén Castellano, Levante Irrigation Manager; and Juan Luis Paredes, Manager of Levante Irrigation Community – Segura’s Right Bank.
Reduction of 100 to 120 cubic hectometers per year
ACCIONA’s Water Cycle Director notes that the proposed hydrological plans for 2022–2027 target the area affected by the Tajo-Segura transfer, predicting a reduction of 100 to 120 cubic hectometers annually under the new ecological-flow requirements. He adds that a five-year window should be used to explore alternatives, with desalination emerging as a viable supplement to existing resources.
Desalination is presented as a mature technology with strong energy efficiency. Economically, energy costs account for about half the price of desalinated water. Yet long-term energy contracts, often spanning up to 15 years, can stabilize prices. Today, the rate stands around 50 euros per megawatt-hour, offering farmers a reliable supply with price stability.
Although more expensive than water from the Tajo-Segura transfer, the option exists to consider a blended approach that combines river water, well water, and reused water. The goal is not to rely solely on the cheapest or the most expensive water, but to integrate desalinated water into a balanced mix for irrigation communities.
A complementary resource
Melgarejo argues that the decision to reduce the Tajo-Segura transfer is ideological and lacks technical justification, advocating desalinated water as a supplementary measure. The principal challenge remains the high cost for farmers and the energy requirements. The consensus is to present desalination as a supplementary tool that can be deployed when needed, with a price target of around 40 cents per cubic meter under private initiatives. The current ministry offer, however, does not render this price viable.
Belén Castellano questions the readiness of desalinated water for agriculture, noting unresolved issues such as boron in desalinated water and the need to blend with other nutrient sources. She also points out that the ministry subsidy currently does not cover the farmers’ real costs, making it difficult to justify exclusive use of desalination. In her view, the market cannot absorb a price increase that would push farmers out of business.
Juan Luis Paredes remains optimistic, suggesting that if desalinated seawater is treated as one component among several additives, it can be integrated into a broader irrigation strategy. This approach could help ease the structural water deficit in the Levante region.
In favor of high value-added agriculture
The future of farming in southeastern Spain hinges on transforming the sector into one that commands higher value for its products. The ACCIONA representative urges professionalizing the sector to transition from traditional farming to agribusiness entrepreneurship. This path would support economically sustainable farming while advancing environmental goals. The region, described as Europe’s orchard, is not expected to be displaced by North Africa. Adapting to new price realities will take time.
Lower the price of desalinated water with Next Generation EU funds
The main hurdle for desalinated water in agriculture is cost, which surpasses the price of water from the Tajo-Segura transfer. To promote regular use, it is essential to reduce the cubic-meter price. Manuel Navarro suggests government subsidies for infrastructure financed with NextGenerationEU funds could bring costs down to about 30 cents per cubic meter for farmers.
He notes that desalination represents the future of irrigation, though the timeline for adoption remains a question. If subsidies cover half of the infrastructure costs, prices could drop to around 0.30 euros per cubic meter. The subsidies would target agricultural use and are intended to ensure Spain maintains reliable water flow with a positive environmental impact. A gradual transition of 10 to 15 years would help internalize new prices within the market.
Advantages and disadvantages of desalination
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Desalination facilities can produce a stable supply at fixed prices, with long-term energy contracts enabling predictable costs. Energy from sustainable sources helps support this stability.
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Seawater is abundant and not weather-dependent. Desalination can help the agricultural sector become more self-sufficient.
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Desalinated water offers a potential solution and supplement to address the structural water deficit in the Spanish southeast.
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Reverse osmosis installations require substantial electricity. The energy cost is a key factor, and interconnection adds further expense, potentially raising costs above those of river transfers.
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Boron levels in desalinated water demand mixing with other water sources to supply crops.
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The price of desalinated water remains higher for farmers, and subsidies are viewed as insufficient by many producers.