Spain Sends More Water from Tagus to Dry Southeast
Date: 05-Mar-07
Country: SPAIN
Two large reservoirs in central Spain will send 38 cubic hectometres of water to ease the drought that is still afflicting the Segura water basin.
There has been steady rain across much of Spain since October and average reservoir levels are now just above 60 percent of capacity.
But the the top of the Tagus, which flows west to Lisbon, has missed out on the rain and the reservoirs donating water are less than 14 percent full, with 340 cubic hectometres stored.
"The system is facing the third year of the worst drought recorded in the area," the Environment Ministry said of the head of the Tagus.
Spain's autonomous regions are vying for control of their water, but only the central government can rule on resources in rivers that run through different regions.
Separately the Environment Ministry has approved a deal between farmers in one area of the Tagus, who will cede 31 cubic hectometres of irrigation water to farmers in Murcia and Alicante, where much of Spain's fruit and vegetables are grown.
In February ministers approved a transfer of 22 cubic hectometres from the Tagus to the southeast, half for urban use and half for irrigation.