A new chapter in the dispute for the water of the Siurana
Recently, the March rains have again lit the controversy between the Priorat environmentalists and the Riudecanyes reservoir irrigation community (CRPR). With the Siurana reservoir of the Siurana reservoir scheduled for May 5, discussions on water management are expected to become present again, emphasizing historical tensions that persist.
Contracted claims between farmers and environmentalists
The farmers of the Baix Camp are pushing to transfer water to the Riudecanyes reservoir, essential for their irrigation campaign. In contrast, the neighbors of the Priorat warn that with the current reserves, the region will not be able to face the summer. At present, the Siurana reservoir is 25% of its capacity, while Riudecanyes reaches 56%, both containing 3 hm3 of water.
The impact of water concessions
The controversy over the water of the Siurana river has been dragging on for years. The irrigators have obtained the right to transfer water from the Ebro basin, which generates a conflict with environmental preservation. An underground channel, which begins in Cornudella de Montsant, directs the water to Riudecanyes, leaving only an environmental flow of 55 liters per second on the river Siurana.
Environmentalists are alerting to the lack of water
The members of the Siurana River Platform criticize this situation, considering it unsustainable for the biodiversity of an area classified as a Natura 2000 Network. They require an increase in the environmental flow to restore the aquifers and wells that have suffered for years of drought.
The consequences of drought
Despite recent rains, drought is still a concern. Miquel Àngel Prats, manager of the CRP, says that water reserves are not enough to ensure proper irrigation. Currently, only 20% and 25% of the crops of a normal year can be watered, and the agricultural community is preparing to ask for a Siurana reservoir to deal with the situation.
The need to innovate in water management
With the aim of reducing dependence on water reserves and weather conditions, a project is being done to treat water from Reus WWTP. This initiative would allow Riudecanyes irrigators to use regenerated water, although the manager warns that high salinity of purified water can be an obstacle to hazelnut crops.
An uncertain future for agriculture
With the uncertainty about water needs for the next irrigation campaign, farmers face a complicated stage. While some have chosen to cultivate olive trees, which are more resistant to lack of water, the general situation is still delicate. Without additional rains, municipalities could re -experience restrictions such as in recent years.
A debate that has no end
The battle for water between the Priorat and the Baix Camp has become a recurring theme, with deep implications for environmental sustainability and the viability of local agriculture. The need to look for effective solutions to manage this scarier resource is more urgent than ever, and interests in play make the solution not easy to find.
