El trasvase Tajo-Segura

Abstract

The receiver basin of Tajo-Segura transfer suffers from a deep natural shortage of water resources caused by climatic, hydrographical and hydrogeological agents. The sharp strong imbalance between water supply and demand is due to natural water resource shortage and to consumption increase and qualitative changes that have affected most uses since 1950. Once the causes of the structural drought of the Segura basin have been studied, we can see what its inhabitants have done throughout its history, which goes all the way back to the Middle Ages when the first projects were made to attempt to correct the lack of water by means of bringing it from nearby sources. A specific study of the Tajo-Segura transfer has been made, emphasising the strategic value of this infrastructure for Murcia and Alicante, since it supplies resources of high quality for agricultural use as well as drinking water managed by the “Community of the Taibilla Channels”. Finally, an analysis is made of the conflicts between the areas that must cede the water and those that receive it. The debate on the approval of the National Hydrological Plan has strengthened the criticism of the detractors against the transfer Tajo-Segura