Groundwater challenges in Spain (Lessons from the Western Mancha aquifer)

Transcription

1 Groundwater in Spain (Lessons from the Western Mancha aquifer) Pedro Martínez-Santos Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain Albuquerque, NM September 25, 2013

2 2 Contents : a historical perspective 3. Groundwater management 4. Closing

3 3 New Mexico Spain Size (sqm) 121, ,364 Population 2 million 47 million P.C. Income ($) 31,500 29,000

4 4 Average rainfall (in/yr) in selected parts of Spain and New Mexico Source: WaterDB.com (2013)

5 5 Water use per sector (%) NEW MEXICO SPAIN ,4 80 Source: USGS (2009) Source: MIMAM (2002) Domestic supply Industry and mining Irrigation (and livestock) Power

6 6 Groundwater is important in New Mexico and Spain because: Irrigation is necessary (and a traditional economic sector) They are both generally dry (and subject to droughts) o In both cases groundwater is relatively abundant o o easily accesible of sufficiently good quality

7 7 Farmers understand the advantages of groundwater: Drought proofing Disponibility on demand Self-management As a result, they tend to rely a lot on groundwater, just like any other arid and semiarid regions of the world (Middle East, Australia, China, India, Western US )

8 8 The idea of intensive groundwater use is relatively new (less than one century) From dug wells to boreholes From waterwheels to the submersible pump From water dowsers to Hydrogeology

9 9 Groundwater withdrawals in Spain Development carried out by individual farmers No master plan No control Laws and regulations developed after pumping became widespread The social and economic benefits generally outweigh the disadvanges, but they come with side effects (water table depletion, groundwater contamination, degradation of aquatic ecosystems, land subsidence) Source: MIMAM (2000)

10 10 The Western Mancha aquifer Surface: 2120 mi 2 (2/3 ABQ Basin) Population: 300,000 Rainfall: 14.5 in/yr ( Santa Fe) Saturated thickness: 1300 ft

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12 12 A dry region whose main natural resource is [ground]water

13 13 Indicator ft 125 ft Irrigated Ban surface on new wells Surface water (ha) 7,000 5,000 No enforcement Irrigated surface Groundwater (ha) < 10, ,000 EU subsidies to water-intensive Wells (legal) crops 16,000 < 1,000 Wells (total) 40,000 Source: CHG (2005 and 2006)

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15 Río Záncara en Alameda de Cervera (Marzo 2007) 15 Ojos del Guadiana (permanente) Río Cigüela en Villarta (Junio 2007) Río Cigüela en Villarta (Mayo 2007) Las Tablas de Daimiel (Diciembre 2005) Río Guadiana en Molemocho (1997) Foto: S. Castaño Río Córcoles en Socuéllamos (Marzo 2007) Río Azuer en Daimiel (Enero 2007) Río Guadiana en Zuacorta (Mayo 2006) Río Guadiana en Peñarroya (Enero 2007) CAUCES FLUVIALES

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17 Foto: S. Castaño (2007) 17

18 18 Social conflicts Water Authority vs farmers Water Authority vs environmental NGOs Farmers vs environmental NGOs Farmers vs farmers (legal vs illegal, big vs small land-owners) No metering, rampant illegal use, no enforcement ability on the part of the Water Authority, legal mess No political willingness to solve the problem (irrigation subsidies were the economic engine of the region, aquifer overdraft just a side effect)

19 19 In 2000 the EU enacted the Water Framework Directive All Member States need to restore all aquifers and surface water bodies before 2015 (2027) As a result, Water Authorities renewed their efforts bring the situation under control A plan was enacted in 2011 (broad consensus) Subsidies to water-efficient crops Buying water rights Re-allocating a part of the water rights to illegal farmers The economic crisis hampered performance of the plan, to the point that water savings have been marginal However

20 Aquifer recovery Groundwater elevation (m.a.s.l.) Recovery ft across the board Jan-97 Apr-97 Jul-97 Oct-97 Jan-98 Apr-98 Jul-98 Oct-98 Jan-99 Apr-99 Jul-99 Oct-99 Jan-00 Apr-00 Jul-00 Oct-00 Jan-01 Apr-01 Jul-01 Oct-01 Jan-02 Apr-02 Jul-02 Oct-02 Jan-03 Apr-03 Jul-03 Oct-03 Jan-04 Apr-04 Jul-04 Oct-04 Jan-05 Apr-05 Jul-05 Oct-05 Jan-06 Apr-06 Jul-06 Oct-06 Jan-07 Apr-07 Jul-07 Oct-07 Jan-08 Apr-08 Jul-08 Oct-08 Jan-09 Apr-09 Jul-09 Oct-09 Jan-10 Apr-10 Jul-10 Oct-10 Jan-11 Apr-11 Jul-11 Oct-11 Jan-12 Apr-12 Jul-12 Oct-12 Jan-13 Apr-13

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22 22 Perhaps the greatest challenge is the burden of the past: 4. Conclusions Ban on new wells + No enforcement ability + EU subsidies to water-intensive crops = Thousands of illegal wells Turning groundwater into public ownership overnight + Insufficient information to users (conflict) + Courts applying different legal doctrine = Thousands of open lawsuits Years of crying wolf + Unexpected (and timely) recovery of the system + Water transfer for drinking supply + Economic crisis = No incentive to make efforts in the immediate future

23 23 Quantitatively, irrigation is the only important player in the water business (dry regions) Water-saving policies must primarily address the irrigation sector Domestic and corporate savings are good to raise awareness, but are only a drop in the ocean To what extent does it make sense to grow water-intensive crops in dry regions? Is it really possible for farmers to make the shift to water efficient agriculture? Will climate change become an unexpected ally?