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Reservoir at historic lows. EFE
Drought Takes Its Toll: The Júcar Maintains Water Restrictions Amid Uncertain Predictions

Drought Takes Its Toll: The Júcar Maintains Water Restrictions Amid Uncertain Predictions

The Marinas Remain in Emergency Situation and the Alicante-Elche System on Alert

José Vicente Pérez Pardo

Alicante

Lunes, 21 de octubre 2024, 16:15

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La provincia de Alicante faces autumn in worse condition than in 2023 because the previous hydrological year (between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024) has been one of the worst in the last 33 years. Only the rains from June have prevented the title of 'driest year in history' in the Alicante regions of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ). However, during that hydrological year, "the situation has worsened significantly," according to the basin organization.

Therefore, the CHJ has decided to maintain the existing restrictions on the concessional volumes of irrigation users for the newly started hydrological year. The hydrological scenarios considered for simulations and Aemet's precipitation "are uncertain," according to the basin organization, so they have preferred to be cautious.

In any case, they assure, "special attention must be paid to the weather in the coming months and the evolution of the corresponding drought and scarcity monitoring indicators (according to the Special Drought Plan)." Depending on this, they warn, "appropriate adjustment measures could be programmed," which would be proposed to users in the upcoming sessions of the Reservoir Release Commission.

The situation is, at least, worrying. The two Marinas are still in a state of water emergency. Some municipalities in these regions already had water restrictions this summer due to drought, and the situation remains despite the September rains. Meanwhile, the Alicante-Elche system is also on alert.

The province is now preparing for five days of rain, some intense on the northern coast that may alleviate this situation. However, for the maintenance of winter crops, extraordinary supply contributions from transfers will be necessary. Thus, the irrigators of the Júcar-Vinalopó will request up to 36 hectometers for 2025, as TodoAlicante already announced.

All this data has been reported in the meetings of the Reservoir Release Commission of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation held in Valencia. They discuss the forecasts of the reservoir filling programs after analyzing the data corresponding to the completed hydrological year (in relation to previous ones and with temporary averages) and based on the forecasts made by Aemet for the coming months, which, for now, are "uncertain."

The average precipitation of the completed hydrological year has been 320 mm, a figure 23% lower than that recorded in the past hydrological year, which was 414 mm, confirming a downward trend since 2019-2020 (532 mm). The most significant rains occurred at the headwaters of the Júcar River, with a notable decrease in these precipitations in the middle and lower river basins.

320 liters per square meter

accumulated from October 2023 to September 2024, 23% less than the previous year

1,164 cubic hectometers

are stored in the reservoirs of the demarcation, 15% less than last year

Between the start of the hydrological year (October 1, 2023) and May 2024, there was hardly any rain, with the curve around the historical lows of the series of the last 33 years. However, the situation improved slightly with the rains from June, which placed the precipitation slightly above the historical minimum, although far from the average.

On the other hand, the volume stored in all the reservoirs of the Demarcation, as of October 1, has been 1,164 hm3, which represents 41.1% of the total capacity. This value is lower than last year's on the same date (1,362 hm3), representing a 15% decrease. It remains below the average values of the series of the last 10 and 5 years, although still above the average of the last 20 years.

In general, the programmed demands in the expired hydrological year have been met thanks to the use of alternative resources (desalination, reuse); the implementation of drought wells and the strict compliance with the concessional restrictions imposed in application of the Special Drought Plan.

It is worth remembering that at the beginning of the past hydrological year 2023-2024, the situation, both in terms of prolonged drought and scarcity, was much better. No territorial unit was in a prolonged drought situation, and only two, Cenia-Maestrazgo and Palancia-Los Valles, were in a pre-alert scenario due to scarcity.

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todoalicante Drought Takes Its Toll: The Júcar Maintains Water Restrictions Amid Uncertain Predictions