Biologist and ecologist Fernando Maestre Gil argues that the Tagus-Segura water transfer has an expiration date and supports adapting crop choices through smarter irrigation practices. He notes that drought-driven land drying is a clear risk as water resources grow scarcer, warning that continued rainfall patterns and water use as they are could drive desertification in parts of Spain.
Maestre Gil, who has received the Alejando Malaspina National Research Award in Natural Resources Sciences and Technologies (2022) and the Rei Jaume I Environmental Protection Award (2020), is a prominent figure at the University of Alicante. In a recent interview, he described the current drought as a climate situation shaped by below-average precipitation across much of the country, alongside unusually high temperatures and stressed groundwater bodies.
He highlighted that more than 40% of the region’s aquifers already show pollution problems or are overused, underscoring his long-standing work on biodiversity and the ecology of arid environments. The image of the Tagus-Segura transfer, as seen in Orihuela (Alicante), reflects these pressures and the evolving water future in Spain.
Maestre Gil warned that if rainfall remains scant and water consumption, particularly for irrigated agriculture, continues at its current pace, the risk of desertification will rise in various regions. He emphasized that the greatest danger lies where drought coincides with high water use in farming.
Reduce the irrigated area
The Alicante native proposes a reduction in irrigated land and a temporary halt on new irrigation projects, along with converting some crops to rain-fed farming. He argues that decisions should weigh water use and crop value against social impact, prioritizing options that create jobs and distribute wealth effectively.
The expert also advocates a moratorium on new irrigation schemes and on converting crops back to rain-fed production, noting that water use in agriculture accounts for more than 80% of Spain’s fresh water consumption.
He also stresses the need to cut food waste. Extraordinary amounts of produce often go unsold and are discarded when markets saturate due to overproduction, he noted.
What will happen to the Tagus-Segura transfer?
Asked whether the transfer remains necessary, Maestre Gil said it has an expiration date. Climate records have shifted over the last two decades, with reduced rainfall in the Tagus basin and projections showing further declines. Warmer temperatures increase evapotranspiration, compounding water shortages.
The future of the transfer remains uncertain, given that much of it occurs through an open-air duct where water sustains losses to evaporation. The moment may come when the transfer must be curtailed, not to appease a political agenda but because water simply isn’t available to divert. Planning for a water-scarce future is essential.
There will come a time when there is no more water to transfer
Regarding desalination plants, Maestre Gil described them as a supplementary resource to be used as transfers decline and aquifers become more depleted, rather than a primary solution.
Drought will worsen aquifer conditions
When asked about the risk to aquifers if high temperatures and scarce rainfall persist, the expert affirmed a real danger that drought will further strain groundwater reserves, particularly if current conditions endure. He urged political leaders in upcoming local, regional, and national elections to focus on reducing overall water consumption.
His suggested actions include limiting irrigation, investing in infrastructure to tap untapped resources such as stormwater storage, using more purified water for agriculture, and adapting towns and cities to the climate challenges already faced. The emphasis is on practical, immediate steps that could reduce pressure on water systems.
In closing, the dialogue calls for measured, data-driven policies to prepare for a future where water scarcity becomes a defining factor in regional planning and agricultural practices.