Reservoirs in Marina Baja Maintain Lowest Water Levels Since Early 2000s Despite Recent Rains

March has been a very rainy month. After several months without precipitation and a prolonged drought, the arrival of successive storms since the beginning of the month has helped alleviate some of the thirst suffered by the province of Alicante. Some northern localities have recorded almost 600 litres per square metre.

Such is the case of Vall d'Ebo or Vall de la Gallinera, which have recorded between 591 l/m2 and 589 l/m2, respectively, according to data from the Valencian Meteorology Association (Avamet). The rains have provided relief to the reservoirs, which increased their capacity each week.

Despite this, they continue with minimal capacities since the early 2000s. It is the case of the Marina Baja System, where the Amadorio and Guadalest reservoirs are located. According to the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ), both have increased in the last week by 0.34% and 0.37%, respectively.

While the Amadorio has 1.87 cubic hectometres stored and is at 11.8% of its capacity, Guadalest is in a 'better' state at 26.42% of the total with 3.43 hm3. However, despite the increases, both are at their lowest since the early 2000s.

According to the latest CHJ report, with 5.3 hm3, the Marina Baja system is at its lowest levels since the early 2000s. One must go back to 2001 to see a lower amount, which was 2.6 hm3. The stored capacity is well below the average of the last 10 years, which stands at 14.2 hm3, while the last 20 years' average is 17.5 hm3.

The situation in the Serpis System, where the Beniarrés reservoir is located, is somewhat more positive. With 9.19 cubic hectometres, it is at 34% of its capacity, increasing by 0.81% in the last week thanks to the rains.

The situation is quite different from the rest of the Júcar basin. In the Valencia area, many reservoirs are above 80% capacity, and some, like the Maria Cristina in the Mijares System, have exceeded their storage capacity.

The rains have made an impact, and the CHJ reports a total of 1,694 cubic hectometres stored in the basin, almost 60% of the total. The problem lies in the Alicante systems, where reservoirs do not reach 26% of their capacity, while in the rest of the Valencian basin, the lowest figure is in the Turia at 57% of its capacity.