The debate surrounding cuts to the Tagus-Segura transfer has become a central topic in discussions about regional water policy that are shaping the final weeks of local governance and coloring the election campaign. Multiple political groups are eager to protect the flows from this basin, yet their approaches diverge. On the left, the emphasis tends to be on expanding supplies through reuse, desalination, and advanced purification, while on the right there is a push for a nationwide water strategy designed to address interregional imbalances. This clash of priorities reflects broader tensions over how to secure reliable water access for agriculture, households, and industry across communities in the coming years.
The central government’s decision to suspend the transfer of water from the Tajo-Segura system, justified as a move to guarantee ecological flows, has put at risk tens of thousands of hectares of irrigated land in the Alicante province, long described as the orchard of Europe. The move has tied up agricultural activity, provoking concerns about sustained livelihoods and regional economic stability. In response, appeals from the regional government, the Alicante State Assembly, and irrigation associations have kept the matter in the courts, with the Supreme Court now playing a decisive role in adjudicating the competing claims and responsibilities of national policy and local needs.
What are the programmatic proposals driving the political landscape? All major groups express a commitment to keeping the transfer functioning, though their roadmaps differ in emphasis. The PSPV has repeatedly pledged to strengthen water infrastructure to reduce leaks and losses, while seeking to augment supplies through desalination and improved water treatment. The strategy echoes the paths followed by two other parties within the Botànic coalition, Compromís and Unides Podem, who advocate integration of modern water management tools with regional safeguards for environmental and agricultural priorities.
From the right, alternative considerations are acknowledged, but the core aim remains the preservation of flows from the Tagus and the exploration of a national framework that links basins through reciprocal arrangements. In this camp, the PP, Ciudadanos, and Vox outline proposals that include ensuring continuous water deliveries, negotiating cross-regional agreements, and laying the groundwork for a broader, legally grounded national water plan that can adapt to climate variability while supporting productive sectors.
Irrigators are asking the Supreme Court that there are no environmental reasons to cut the transmission.
Yet the debate extends beyond transfers alone. Socialists emphasize modernizing irrigation infrastructure across the region with a substantial investment package and endorse a Valencia-wide water strategy to guarantee a permanent, stable supply. Compromís elevates the water strategy to a legislative priority, aiming to enshrine it in law, while Unides Podem advocates a conservation program focused on protecting traditional irrigation methods and orchard lands, ensuring that long-standing agricultural practices are preserved and adaptable to evolving environmental conditions.
The spectrum of proposals also includes practical measures: the PP supports irrigation improvements and argues for competitive pricing of desalinated water for agriculture, while Ciudadanos calls for a stand-alone autonomous framework governing water use. Vox, meanwhile, places emphasis on practical infrastructure improvements such as channel cleaning and maintenance, underscoring the need for cleaner, more reliable irrigation channels to support farming communities.