Groundwater in Spain: increasing role, evolution, present and future

Llamas, M. Ramón; Custódio, Emílio; Portillo, África de la Hera; Fornés, Juan

doi:10.1007/s12665-014-4004-0

Cited by 40 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(12 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…However, 80-90% of the country's wells were not yet declared or registered; thus, private ownership was maintained (LLAMAS et al, 2015). Additionally, thousands of wells were opened without State control, forming a true picture of "hydrological insubordination" (LLAMAS, 2004).…”

Section: Administrative Concessions Of Water Use Rights In Spainmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Instruments of administrative concessions of water use rights in Spain

Magalhães

Curiel

2017

RBRH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Most of the Spanish territory is marked by Mediterranean climatic characteristics, in which rain irregularity and droughts present continuous challenges to water resource managers. Since the end of the 19 th century, the country has adopted a management logic based on flow regularization from dam construction and basin water transfers. However, from the Water Framework Directive adopted in 2000, European Union member states are forced to undertake more environmentally oriented management processes, with a focus on improving the ecological status of water bodies. In this sense, economic management tools have been highlighted in the national strategies for compliance with the Water Framework Directive requirements. One of those instruments is the public water use rights permit. This paper aims to present the Spanish panorama of this instrument and contribute to those interested in water management. The work shows that there are several challenges and problems faced by the Spanish management apparatus, particularly regarding continuity of private management of groundwater and insufficient knowledge of numerous wells and volumes of water used. For various reasons, the concessions system faces criticism as to defending the interests of traditional economic sectors. Keywords:Water use rights concession; Water resources management; Spain water management. RESUMENGran parte del territorio español es marcado por características climáticas mediterráneas, en que la irregularidad pluviométrica y los estiajes se constituyen en retos continuados a los gestores de recursos hídricos. Desde el final del siglo XIX, España ha adoptado una lógica de gestión basada en la regularización de caudales a partir de la construcción de presas y de transferencias hídricas entre cuencas. Sin embargo, a partir de la Directiva Marco del Agua los países miembros de la Unión Europea han sido forzados a buscaren objetivos más ambientales, centrados en la mejora del estado ecológico de las masas de agua. En ese sentido, los instrumentos económicos tienen destaque en las estrategias nacionales de adecuación a las exigencias de la Directiva. Este artículo intenta presentar el panorama español de aplicación de la concesión de derechos de usos del agua. Hay una serie de retos y problemas confrontados por el aparato gestor español, particularmente la continuidad de la gestión privada de aguas subterráneas y el desconocimiento de gran parte de los pozos y de los volúmenes utilizados. Por este y otros motivos, el sistema de concesiones enfrenta críticas cuanto a la defensa de los intereses de sectores económicos tradicionales en el país.Palabras clave: Concesiones de derecho de uso del agua; Gestión de recursos hídricos; Gestión del agua en España.RBRH, Porto Alegre, v. 22, e41, 2017

show abstract

Section: Administrative Concessions Of Water Use Rights In Spainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Mediterranean conditions that affect two thirds of the Spanish territory make the country the most arid of Europe (LLAMAS et al, 2015) and shape different management challenges for neighboring countries. Rainfall irregularity and frequent droughts aggravate the connection between water availability and demands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Instruments of administrative concessions of water use rights in Spain

Magalhães

Curiel

2017

RBRH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, the economic and social role and value of groundwater are uncertain and include important components of local resource governance. In the semiarid half of Spain, groundwater is an important water resource, often the most important [36]. It is the main source of water for agriculture (it normally takes the largest fraction of water resources), urban and tourist areas supply and for recreation, although some uses, like golf courses, have to use reclaimed water.…”

Section: Some Comments On Uncertainty In Groundwater Economic Adminimentioning

confidence: 99%

Comments on Uncertainty in Groundwater Governance in the Volcanic Canary Islands, Spain

Custódio

Cabrera

Poncela

et al. 2015

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The uncertainty associated with natural magnitudes and processes is conspicuous in water resources and groundwater evaluation. This uncertainty has an essential component and a part that can be reduced to some extent by increasing knowledge, improving monitoring coverage, continuous elaboration of data and accuracy and addressing the related economic and social aspects involved. Reducing uncertainty has a cost that may not be justified by the improvement that is obtainable, but that has to be known to make the right decisions. With this idea, this paper contributes general comments on the evaluation of groundwater resources in the semiarid Canary Islands and on some of the main sources of uncertainty, but a full treatment is not attempted, nor how to reduce it. Although the point of view is local, these comments may help to address similar situations on other islands where similar problems appear. A consequence of physical and hydrological uncertainty is that different hydrogeological and water resource studies and evaluations may yield different results. Understanding and coarsely evaluating uncertainty helps in reducing administrative OPEN ACCESSWater 2015, 7 2953 instability, poor decisions that may harm groundwater property rights, the rise of complaints and the sub-optimal use of the scarce water resources available in semiarid areas. Transparency and honesty are needed, but especially a clear understanding of what numbers mean and the uncertainty around them, to act soundly and avoid conflicting and damaging rigid attitudes. However, the different situations could condition that what may be good in a place, may not always be the case in other places.

show abstract

“…Water resources in the Mediterranean region basin is affected by high pressure by human activities including urban supply [1], irrigation [2,3] and tourism activities [4]. In this region surface runoff and streamflow have dominantly decreased in the past three decades [1,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of climate and land-cover scenarios on dam management strategies in a high water pressure catchment in North-east Spain

Zabalza-Martínez

Vicente‐Serrano

López‐Moreno

et al. 2017

Proceedings of First International Electronic Conference on the Hydrological Cycle

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The water management of Boadella-Darnius reservoir (NE Spain) has been analysed for the period 1971-2013 to understand the different strategies applied in the past. Streamflow has been projected under climate conditions included in the Third Report on Climate Change in Catalonia (TCCC) and under land-use change scenarios. We have simulated Darnius-Boadella reservoir inflow (2021-2050) using the Regional Hydro-Ecologic Simulation System (RHESsys) with two objectives: (i) to analyse the impact of climate and land-use changes on the water resources of the basin and (ii) to analyse the different plausible strategies of water management at mid-term period . Results reveal a clear negative trend in dam inflow (-34.7%) since it was built in 1971. The simulations obtained with RHESsys show a similar trend at mid-term (2021-2050) with -31.1% under climate and land-use change conditions. Considering the ecological minimum flow outlined by Catalan Water Agency (ACA) and the possible dam inflow decrease, different water management strategies are needed to mitigate the effects of the expected climate change.

show abstract

Groundwater in Spain: increasing role, evolution, present and future

Cited by 40 publications

References 13 publications

Instruments of administrative concessions of water use rights in Spain

Instruments of administrative concessions of water use rights in Spain

Comments on Uncertainty in Groundwater Governance in the Volcanic Canary Islands, Spain

The influence of climate and land-cover scenarios on dam management strategies in a high water pressure catchment in North-east Spain

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About