- EDITIONS:
Spanish News Today
Murcia Today
Alicante Today
PROPERTY SEARCH
New drought measures approved in Andalucia
The regional government will put over 200 million euros into water projects
The Governing Council of the Government of Andalucía, the Junta, approved this Monday January 29 its fourth drought decree with an allocation of 217.8 million euros to initiate new actions to fight the effects of the drought in the face of the “limiting situation” of the community’s reservoirs, effective immediately.
The new measures aim to put into circulation 81 more cubic hectometres of water for consumption by the population and the farming sector via updates to the existing water networks. Plans have also been put in place for drinking water to be brought in by ship if necessary.
You may also be interested in: How much would it have to rain in Malaga to end the drought?
As explained in a press conference by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Carmen Crespo, with this new decree, which also includes urgent, administrative and fiscal measures to support the agricultural sector, the Andalucía Government has now invested more than 500 million euros to combat the region’s drought.
The decree includes a series of immediate and priority actions that will be concluded next summer, allocating 40 million euros for a new way of collaboration with smaller municipalities through agreements with provincial councils to fix the leaks in their networks and to using ‘regenerated’ water to guarantee supply to the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
Specifically, this decree marks the immediate start of works in the areas of Axarquía, Guadalhorce and the Costa del Sol, Campo de Gibraltar, Levante de Almería, Guadalete and Barbate in Cádiz and Béznar and Rules in Granada. In the case of Axarquía, the water supply will be improved with the Trapiche Drinking Water Treatment Plant.
In the Almanzora Valley of Almería, high-speed supply works will begin immediately, as well as improving the supply guarantee to Santa Olalla del Cala (Huelva) and the Huelva towns of Cueva de la Mora and Monteblanco, in the municipality of Almonaster la Real.
The plan also includes a commitment to the arrival of water in ships in extreme situations, which would arrive at the ports of Algeciras and Carboneras.
The increase in desalination will also be key, with the expansion of the desalination plant on the Costa del Sol, in Marbella, to reach up to 20 hectometres. The Board anticipates that, together with the completion of the works on the Rojas Pumping Station, will alleviate the current drought situation on the Costa del Sol.
Finally, the construction of new tertiary services in Jerez de la Frontera, Bajo Guadalhorce, Antequera, Gualdahorce and Motril will allow 39 cubic hectometres of water to be put into circulation for the productive sectors and industry, especially the agricultural sector.
In addition to these actions, the drought decree includes financial aid provisions to the Andalusian primary sector through via direction cash injections, tax exemptions and new infrastructure to provide connection to regenerated water for irrigators and farmers.
Image: Archive
staff.inc.and
See more environmental news about Spain:
OR
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin to get a comprehensive email with all the week’s news for Spain, Murcia, Alicante and Andalucía.
Get a sneak peek – here are a few of our recent Subscription Bulletins:
25% Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
