Optimum Water distribution: A case study of The La Marina Baja Region

The Alicante province is one the member of Valencia region. The Valencia region is one of 17
autonomous regions in Spain. The Alicante province consists of 141 municipalities and the Marina
Baja (Marina Baixa) consists of 14 municipalities. The Marina Baja region is probably the most
important region in the Valencia region as the Marina Baja’s tourism contributes to about 60% of
tourism industry in the Valencia region (in term of the number of tourists). According to Yoon et
al. (2018), Benidorm (the most attractive tourist destination) attracts about 2 million visitors a year
which is similar to about 11 million nigh stays. This puts Benidorm as the third place of the most
visit place after Barcelona and Madrid.

The Alicante province of the Marina Baja is part of the geographical region of the Southeast
Iberian, the driest of the Peninsula and Europe, with a low rainfall combined with harsh and
prolonged droughts. Similar to other regions in Spain, the Marina Baja urban areas are mostly
located closes to coastal areas (only Madrid is a region with high population in inland areas). In
addition, IPCC (2007) projects that the Marina Baja will probably experience a decrease in rainfall.
All of these making this region is an interesting area to investigate for water distribution under low
rainfall pattern.

The La Marina Baja region is an arid region inhabited by some parties who have an interest to
fulfill their water needs. As some parties have the same interest to fulfill their needs, the consortium
(the Consortium of Water for Supply and Sanitation of the Marina Baja) was built in 1977 to
manage water distribution properly to all needed parties. These parties are but not limited to
farmers, household and tourism industry.

Agriculture has important economic and social roles as agriculture contributes to employment and
GDP (fruit export). Although agriculture has important roles, agriculture’s water consumption is
higher than that of tourism. Tourism industry is also important as an engine of economic activity
especially in Benidorm and Villajoyosa. As a consequence of tourism expansion, farmers agreed
to use reused water for their farming areas. Another consequence of water scarcity is water
treatment plants and usage of surface and groundwater simultaneously for water consumption the
Marina Baja region of Alicante province.

Another problem is land conversion between agriculture, tourism and urban areas. When
agriculture is transformed for other purposes, greenhouse emission tends to increase. Land use
change may also leads to unemployment and a lower economic output (owing to reduce
agricultural production). Increasing tourism and/or expansion of urban areas may lead to water
scarcity as this region is a semiarid area. Other studies () suggest that another effect of land use
change (agricultural conversion) is a higher inequalities. The other land use change is an exchange
between dry agriculture (rainfed agriculture) and irrigated agriculture as the latest offers more
lucrative business.

According to the Book (p.42) Guadalest, Algar and Amadorio are arid regions. But the observed
rainfall during the period 1971-2013 shows that the Algar and the Guadalest has a higher rainfall
than the Amadorio. The observed data shows that annual precipitation in Algar and Guadalest is
about 1000 mm (200mm-1300mm). While annual precipitation in Amadorio is about 300 mm
(200mm-600mm).

The La Marina Baja consists of some parties including population, farmers and tourism industry,
making this region is vulnerable to water conflict. Owing to this two reservoirs were built to fulfill
water needs in the La Marina Baja region. The first one is the main reservoir i.e. the Guadalest
reservoir. This reservoir is the main source of water in the region as this gets water from the Algar
River and the Algar aquifer (the abundant source of water).

In the rainy seasons, the Guadalest reservoir (12.5 hm3) gets water mainly from the Algar River
and the Algar Aquifer but in dry seasons, the Guadalest reservoir gets water mainly from the Algar
aquifer. The Guadalest also gets water other sources including the Guadalest River and Beniarda
Aquifer.

The water from the Algar aquifer is collected in a pumping station and then distributed to the
Guadalest reservoir and this can be used to fulfill population need. Afterwards, water from the
Algars is collected in small barrage (Azud) and then the water is distributed to the Guadalest
reservoir and the rest is distributed to irrigated areas. It should be noted that the Guadalest reservoir
covers the most household water consumption compared to the Amadorio reservoir.

The second (the least important) reservoir is The Amadorio reservoir (15.3 hm3) which gets water
from the Amadorio River, but this river has low water debit. Owing to this, The Canal Bajo de
Algar (it is about 29kms and capacity is about 1.500 liter/sec) is used to distribute excessed water
from the Guadalest and Algar River. This water is collected in the Mandem Pumping station
together with water from the Torres River to the Amadorio reservoir. The second reservoir also
gets desalinated water but this is costly (Rabasa-fenollar-Amadorio Transfer).

Farmers have rights to get water for their farming field even in dry seasons. Owing to limited water
during dry seasons, farmers may get water from reused water. There are many treatment plants to
reuse water for irrigation need such as Villajoyosa, Altea, and Benidorm. According to the rule,
water is separated to 50% for each party i.e. farmers and the rest parties.

There are other aquifers that fulfill household need such as the Polop aquifer. But, this aquifer
solely used to fulfill local need. Another aquifer i.e. Air Sutana should be explored further as this
aquifer has not been exploited to fulfill water need. This is important as the observed data shows
volume groundwater (1998-2012) as follows Polop’s contribution (10 M – 23 M) is the highest
one following Beniarda’s (9M-21M)) and Algar (7M-13M). The water contribution is in m3.

There are 7 agricultural areas: Polop. Altas del Pi, Altea, Benidorm, Callosa d’En Sarria, La Nucia
and Villajoyosa. The Guadalest reservoir aims to expand agriculture areas to about 3023 ha in
regions of Altea, Alfaz del Pi, Benidorm and Villajoyosa. The Amadorio reservoir has irregular
water and aims to expand to about 1600 ha agricultural areas in Villajoyosa. Because white water
is limited, irrigated areas requires about (15M-25M) m3 while white water used for irrigation is
about (10M-15M) m3.
This table explains the water need for irrigated areas:
Municipalities Superficies (ha) Water Demand Water demand when
it is drought
Fruit Citrus Others Fruit Citrus Others Fruit Citrus Others
L’Alfas del Pi 3 284 0 0.01 1.42 0 0.02 1.8 0
Altea 47 455 4 0.19 2.28 0.01 0.24 2.88 0.02
Beniarda 5 1 6 0.02 0 0.02 0.03 0 0.02
Benidorm 4 157 0 0.02 0.78 0 0.02 0.99 0
Benifato 7 0 3 0.03 0 0.01 0.03 0 0.01
Benimantell 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0.01 0
Bollula 33 89 0 0.13 0.45 0 0.17 0.57 0
Callosa d’En 297 518 1 1.19 2.59 0 1.54 3.28 0
Sarria
Guadalest 4 0 4 0.02 0 0.01 0.02 0 0.02
Confrides 0 29 3 0 0.15 0.01 0 0.18 0.01
Finestrat 3 41 9 0.01 0.2 0.03 0.02 0.26 0.04
La Nucia 8 239 0 0.03 1.2 0 0.04 1.51 0
Orxeta 0 64 0 0 0.32 0 0 0.4 0
Polop 35 169 10 0.14 0.85 0.03 0.18 1.07 0.04
Relleu 2 4 110 0.01 0.02 0.33 0.01 0.02 0.44
Sella 0 22 1 0 0.11 0 0 0.14 0
Tarbena 4 3 1 0.02 0.02 0 0.02 0.02 0
Villajoyosa 8 293 3 0.03 1.47 0.01 0.04 1.86 0.01
Total Parsial 460.79 2369.89 156.54 1.84 11.85 0.47 2.38 14.99 0.63
Grand Total 297.22 ha 14.16 hm3 18 hm3

Figure 60 (p.191) explains how much water distributed for to each district: Polop: (17M-23M) m3;
Benidorm (18M-21M)m3; Villajoyosa (6M-8M) m3; Alfaz (5M-6M)m3; La Nucia (2.5M-
3M)m3; Altea (1M-1.5M)m3 and Finestrat (0.5M-1.25M)m3. In p. 191, there is also a sentence
explaining the capacity of water going to wastewater plant as follows: In periods of water scarcity,
the Agua de la Marina consortium has the capacity to supply irrigators with a volume of 9 hm3 /
year of treated wastewater).

Benidorm and Villajoyosa are the most attractive tourist destinations. Owing to tourism industry
expansion, there have been some urban areas have been built. As some tourists are overcrowded,
urban areas have been developed in inland areas that may be converted agricultural areas to other
urban related purposes (housing and road network).

Although agriculture is an important sector in the Marina Baja (Baixa), sometimes farmers
abandon their farming areas owing to lack of young generation interest and limited water
availability.

The water requirement of agriculture is higher than that of tourism and the water requirement for
population is the lowest one. In recent decades, owing to water scarcity, household gets higher
priority on water consumption than agriculture. But, there are some critics that household may use
water improperly/ excessively as water may be used for swimming pool.

For tourism industry, there are differences in water per capita need among different types of
accommodation. In general, simple and more affordable accommodation requires less water than
higher classes of accommodation. It simply due to higher water usage such as swimming pool in
higher classes of accommodation.

During wet years, normal and drought years, energy needed to distribute water to end users tends
to increase. This talks about energy-water nexus. According to a recent study (Yoon et al., 2018),
tourism industry has successfully decreased used energy for water distribution.

Mediterranean basin landscapes are experiencing accelerated changes due to the increasing
urbanization of coastal and inland areas, abandonment of traditional farming activities and
expansion of modern intensified agricultural methods (Belda et al., 2011).

The most important driving forces of land use change in semi-arid landscapes of southeastern
Spain in the last decades have been identified by several authors (Martínez et al., 1997; Peña et
al., 2007). One of these forces is the abandonment of traditional land uses, including wood or
firewood extraction and traditional dry farming. The increasing availability of water resources and
market demands has resulted in two other strong driving forces: intensification of agriculture and
urbanization (Belda et al., 2011).

Thus, the areas in which traditional farming has been abandoned have followed two opposite
processes, the invasion of scrubland and pine forests on the one hand and the intensification of
agriculture or spreading of housing developments (mainly urbanizations) and dispersed houses for
tourism on the other.

In the Mediterranean provinces of south-eastern Spain, urbanization close to the coast has reached
near-saturation, and therefore, an increasing number of housing developments are being projected
in inland areas. This expansion of urbanization towards inland areas would have a detrimental
effect on the game species community, especially if they are located close to mosaic of natural and
agricultural patches. Thus, it is important to highlight the decline of dry crops, which in 1956
accounted for 35% of the territory but they have declined progressively to 10% currently (Arques
et al., 2009). This is a consequence of fading economic power that the irrigated agriculture in
Marina Baja held in the past. There has been an agricultural transformation from dry to irrigated
crops and urban lands. The growth of pine tree areas (mainly Pinus halepensis) and scattered holm
oaks is also significant.

In 1956 these covered 18% of the surface, rising to almost 30% today. Finally, artificial hedges,
principally urban land and infrastructures, have had a very marked increase, rising from 2 km2 to
42 km2 in 44 years, but only in around 7% of the zone (Peña, 2007).
Currently, the dominance of the natural matrix highlights the general distribution of land use; less
important in order are irrigated crops, abandoned crops, dry crops and finally urban areas (Arques
et al., 2009).
Auernheimer, C., Almenar, R., & Chapín, F. (2001). Tourism, Agriculture and the Environment.
The case of the province of Alicante. Spain. Options méditerranéennes, 171-194.
-- land use change of agriculture vs tourism and land use change of agriculture and urban areas

Belda, A., Martinez-Perez, J. E., Peiro, V., Seva, E., & Arques, J. (2011). Main landscape
metrics affecting abundance and diversity of game species in a semi-arid agroecosystem in the
Mediterranean region. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 9(4), 1197-1212.

Bonet, A., Bellot, J., Eisenhuth, D., Peiia, J., Sanchez, J. R., & Tejada, J. C. (2006). 9. Some
evidence of landscape change, water usage, management system and governance co-dynamics in
south-eastern Spain. Water Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions, 226-251.

Cavestany, M., Ferrán, J. J., Ferrer, C. M., Pérez, M., Redón, M., Sanchez, F. J., ... & Zapata, F.
J. (2012). The experience of using purified wastewater for irrigation in the Marina Baixa Coast
County (Alicante, Spain). Proposal of future hydric design plans. In Soil and Water Engineering.
International Conference of Agricultural Engineering-CIGR-AgEng 2012: agriculture and
engineering for a healthier life, Valencia, Spain, 8-12 July 2012. CIGR-EurAgEng.

Ridolfi, E. (2017). Exploring the urban hydrosocial cycle in tourist environments.

Investigaciones Geográficas, (61), 17.

Yoon, H., Sauri, D., Rico Amorós, M, A. (2018). Shifting Scarcities? The Energy Intensity of
Water Supply Alternatives in the Mass Tourist Resort of Benidorm, Spain.
http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/3/824 --- talking about water-energy nexus which means
measurement of required energy to distribute water to end users.
Data should be collected:
1) The debit from all rivers and aquifers as well as observed rainfall
2) The debit from the canal and the treatment plants
3) The irrigation areas, population and tourism industry
4) Water per capita use for every party (industry, population and irrigation)
5) Soft variables or management rules. For example, how the consortium shares water to population,
industry and irrigation
6) The capacity of reservoirs, rivers, aquifers and treatment plants as well as the capacity used to
desalinate water.
los menos lluviosos por bajo de 400 mm, son climas secos (p.33)
the less rainy by low of 400 mm, are dry climates
Temperature ranges 9-15 0C (p.35) but in Benidorm temperature reaches about 27oC.
According to (p.42) Guadalest, Algar and Amadorio has similar rainfall pattern. But Algar and
Guadalest has a higher rainfall than Amadorio. This comes from observed rainfall during the
period 1971-2013. The observed data shows that annual precipitation in Algar and Guadalest is
about 1000 mm (200mm-1300mm). While annual precipitation in Amadorio is about 300 mm
(200mm-600mm).
Underground water extension Permeable surface Percentage of total
exploited area
Sierra de Aitana 215.82 km2 179.15 95.9

Serella Aixorta Algar 151.02 98.48 60.8

Orchetta 197.11 183.89 42.4
San Juan – 179.01 86.7 44.3
Bernidorm
TOTAL 742.96 548.22 59.9
From (p.54) Total extent and surface area of groundwater bodies of the marina baja exploitation
system
(p.59) there are a number of wells had been built in La Marina Baja during 1985-1945. The peak
was in 1978: 100 wells were built.
Underground recharge returns river lateral renewable lateral zonal
water illuvia: losses inputs resource outputs renewable
resource
Sierra de 22.3 0.8 0 0 23.1 0 23.1
Aitana
Serella 24.9 0.9 0.6 0 26.4 0.1 26.3
Aixorta Algar
Orchetta 6.3 0.7 0.4 5 12.3 3.2 9.2
San Juan – 8.1 1.7 0.5 3.2 13.4 0 13.4
Bernidorm
TOTAL 61.6 4.1 1.5 8.2 75.2 3.3 72

(p.60) entradas de aguas a las massas de agua subterranean: water inlets to underground water
bodies
Underground pumping demand for Total available Balance
water for urban agricultural demand (D) resource (Rd) (Rd-D)
uses uses
Sierra de 0.2 2.5 2.7 10.4 7.7
Aitana
Serella 11.6 5.9 17.5 21.24 3.74
Aixorta Algar
Orchetta 0.9 1.4 2.3 7.4 5.1
 San Juan – 0.3 1.4 1.7 5.43 3.73
Bernidorm
TOTAL 13 11.2 24.2 44.47 20.27

(p.61) balance of exploitation of the masses of groundwater

Fig 19 (p.62). shows that Amadorio contributes was not seen after 2001 (1998-2001, it
contributed to 40 M to 60 M). Surface water contribution was relatively stable during 1998-
2012. Regenerated water was relatively stable but groundwater was relatively decreased in the
same period. The water contribution is in m3.

Fig 20 (p.63) volume groundwater (1998-2012): Algar/Beniarda/Polop

Polop’s contribution (10 M – 23 M) is the highest one following Beniarda’s (9M-21M)) and
Algar (7M-13M). The water contribution is in m3.

(p.72) Canal Bajo del Algar is about 29kms and capacity is about 1.500 liter/second.

Fig 25 (p.79) variation of water volume for irrigation supplied: white water and reused water.
Figure 25 shows that white water (10M-15M m3) less than reused water (15M-25M m3)

Fig32 (p.91) there are 7 agricultural areas: Polop. Altas del Pi, Altea, Benidorm, Callosa d’En
Sarria, La Nucia dan Villajoyosa. Disini ada data kepemilikan daerah pertanian ditiap-tiap
regions diatas.

Municipalities Superficies (ha) Water Demand Water demand when

it is drought
Fruit Citrus Others Fruit Citrus Others Fruit Citrus Others
L’Alfas del Pi 3 284 0 0.01 1.42 0 0.02 1.8 0
Altea 47 455 4 0.19 2.28 0.01 0.24 2.88 0.02
Beniarda 5 1 6 0.02 0 0.02 0.03 0 0.02
Benidorm 4 157 0 0.02 0.78 0 0.02 0.99 0
Benifato 7 0 3 0.03 0 0.01 0.03 0 0.01
Benimantell 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0.01 0
Bollula 33 89 0 0.13 0.45 0 0.17 0.57 0
Callosa d’En 297 518 1 1.19 2.59 0 1.54 3.28 0
Sarria
Guadalest 4 0 4 0.02 0 0.01 0.02 0 0.02
Confrides 0 29 3 0 0.15 0.01 0 0.18 0.01
Finestrat 3 41 9 0.01 0.2 0.03 0.02 0.26 0.04
La Nucia 8 239 0 0.03 1.2 0 0.04 1.51 0
Orxeta 0 64 0 0 0.32 0 0 0.4 0
Polop 35 169 10 0.14 0.85 0.03 0.18 1.07 0.04
Relleu 2 4 110 0.01 0.02 0.33 0.01 0.02 0.44
Sella 0 22 1 0 0.11 0 0 0.14 0
Tarbena 4 3 1 0.02 0.02 0 0.02 0.02 0
Villajoyosa 8 293 3 0.03 1.47 0.01 0.04 1.86 0.01
 Total Parsial 460.79 2369.89 156.54 1.84 11.85 0.47 2.38 14.99 0.63
Grand Total 297.22 ha 14.16 hm3 18 hm3
(p.95) Estimacion de la demanda neta para riego por grupos de cultivo (Estimation of net
demand for irrigation by crop groups)

(p.121) cuota de representacion de los entes consorciados en la junta general (share of

representation of the consortiums in the general meeting) – take this figure soon

(p.129-131) --- belum diambil datanya

en esa fecha, los recursos hidricos a disposicion del consorcio eran los siguientes (on that date,
the water resources available to the consortium were the following – it was in 1997).

considerando las precipitaciones habidas en el actual mes de febrero (Algar 310 l/m2; Guadalest
283 l/m2; Amadorio 112.5 l/m2) y el consumo coorepondiente, se estima qua a finales de los
proximos meses de marzo y de abril , las situacion de los embalses sera la siguiente
(Considering the rainfall in the current month of February (Algar 310 l / m2, Guadalest 283 l /
m2, Amadorio 112.5 l / m2) and the corresponding consumption, it is estimated that by the end
of the next months of March and April, the situation of the reservoirs will be the following)
(p.142-143) -- take this figure soon

Fig 46 (p.163) The Guadalest reservoir aims to expand agriculture areas to about 3.023 ha in
regions of Altea, Alfaz del Pi, Benidorm and Villajoyosa.

Fig 49 (p.167). The Amadorio reservoir has irregular water and aims to expand to about 1600 ha
agricultural areas in Villajoyosa.

Fig 52 (p.171) sources of groundwater: Beniarda, Polop, Carrascal Bernia and Sella (Aitana Sur)

This paragraphs combines some sentences in page 186-187

FACTORES GENERALES EXPLICATIVOS DE LOS ACUERDOS DE COLABORACION
en la marina baja existen unas 6500 ha de regadio adscritas a una docena de entidades de regantes,
con extensiones compredidas entre 70 y 2500 ha. solo en el periodo 1999-2010, se han abandonado
unas 1000 ha de cultivo, con una reduccion de 15% en el cultivo de nispero 32% en citricos. asi,
de las 6500 ha con derechos de uso inscritosen las comunidas de regantes, tan solo se encuentran
en cultivo unas 4500. lo que ha motivado una notable reduccion de la necesidad de agua. en 2010
la demanda para riego en la marina baja ascendia a 34hm3/ano, frente a los 42 que se necesitaban
en 1995.

este proceso se ha visto acelerado por la fuerte expansion de zonas urbanas, infraestructuras viarias
y equipamientos comerciales y de ocio. A partir de fotografia aerea y sistemas de informacion
geografica, la evolucion de usos agricolas de suelo durante la segunda mitad del siglo XX
evidencia que las coberturas artificiales aumentaron de 1,99 km2, en 1956, a 1.77 km2, en 1978,
y 41.88 km en 2000. En cambio, esta tendencia no se ha mantenido en los cultivos de regadio, que
crecieron de 47.79, en 1956, a 74.65 km2, para verse reducidos a 62.30 en 2000.

(EXPLANATORY GENERAL FACTORS OF THE AGREEMENTS OF COLLABORATION

in the low marina there are some 6500 ha of irrigation assigned to a dozen irrigation entities, with
extensions between 70 and 2500 ha. only in the period 1999-2010, some 1000 ha of cultivation
have been abandoned, with a reduction of 15% in the cultivation of 32% in citrus. Thus, of the
6500 has rights of use registered in the communities of irrigators, only 4500 are in cultivation,
which has led to a significant reduction in the need for water. in 2010 the demand for irrigation in
the low marina amounted to 34hm3 / year, compared to the 42 that were needed in 1995).

This process has been accelerated by the strong expansion of urban areas, road infrastructures
and commercial and leisure facilities. From aerial photography and geographic information
systems, the evolution of agricultural land uses during the second half of the 20th century shows
that artificial coverage increased from 1.99 km2, in 1956, to 1.77 km2, in 1978, and 41.88 km in
2000. On the other hand, this trend has not been maintained in irrigated crops, which grew from
47.79 in 1956 to 74.65 km2, to be reduced to 62.30 in 2000.

This paragraph combines sentences from p.188-189

en cambio, los urbano-turisticos crecieron hasta 2005 para decrecer tambien a partir de dicho
ano.

de las cuales 5690 corresponden a residencias unifamiliares y 26068 aviveindas en bloque

por otro lado, ademas de la destruccion de suelo agricola o del abandono de cultivos de regadio,
el funcionamiento de las comunidades de regantes tambien se ha visto condicionado por el
progresivo envejecimiento de los agricultores y la falta de revelo generacional

(On the other hand, the urban-tourism grew until 2005 to decrease also from that year.

of which 5690 correspond to single-family residences and 26068 revived in block

On the other hand, in addition to the destruction of agricultural land or the abandonment of
irrigated crops, the functioning of irrigation communities has also been conditioned by the
progressive aging of farmers and the lack of generational development)

Fig 59 (p.188) the number of houses built in Benidorm (1996-2010)

Fig 60 (p.191) evolucion del consumo de aqua distribuida en alta por el consorcio The Marina
Baja (evolution of water consumption distributed high by the consortium the Marina Baja)
curvas del consumo de agua en los municipos consorciados entre 1993 y 2012 se marcan los
descencos imputables a las sequias de 1993-97 y 1999-2001; en cambio el descenso a partir de
2008 se relaciona con causas estructurales y crisis economica (Water consumption curves in the
consortium municipalities between 1993 and 2012 are marked by the descents attributable to the
droughts of 1993-97 and 1999-2001; On the other hand, the decline from 2008 is related to
structural causes and economic crisis)

en periodos de escasez de aguas, el consorsio de Aguas de la Marian tiene capacidad para

suministrar a los regantes un volumen de 9 hm3/ano de agua residual depurada (in periods of
water scarcity, the Aguas de la Marina consortium has the capacity to supply irrigators with a
volume of 9 hm3 / year of treated wastewater)

Polop: (17M-23M) m3; Benidorm (18M-21M)m3; Villajoyosa (6M-8M) m3; Alfaz (5M-
6M)m3; La Nucia (2.5M-3M)m3; Altea (1M-1.5M)m3 and Finestrat (0.5M-1.25M)m3

Check table in p. 196 rasgos basicos de los convenios de la colaboracion del consorcio (basic
features of the consortium collaboration agreements)

(p.231) es de notar que, por el extraordinario desarollo de la actividad turistica y con ella, de la
construccion, en la distribucion del consorcio el consumo urbanoo excede en mucho al agricola,
con percentajes respectivos en el lustro 2005-2009 de 76.46 y 23.54.

La demanda urbana fue atendida por entero con con agua blanca, y ascendio durante es periodo a
105.888.481 m3; a diferencia, en los 32.602.537 m3 para riego, las aguas regeneradas
(16.999.561 m3), con el 52.14% rebasaron ligeramante a las blancas (15.602.976 m3), sin
olvidar ademas, que se trato de un lustro marcado por la sequia, en especial los anos 2007, 2008
y 2009. La distribucion anual fue la siguiente:

demandas de agua para riego y abastecimiento (m3) atendidas por el consorcio de aguas de la
marina baja

blancas
depuradas
riego

(It should be noted that, due to the extraordinary development of the tourist activity and with it,
of the construction, in the distribution of the consortium the urban consumption far exceeds the
agricultural one, with respective percentages in the five-year period 2005-2009 of 76.46 and
23.54.

The urban demand was met entirely with white water, and rose during this period to 105,888,481
m3; unlike, in the 32,602,537 m3 for irrigation, the reclaimed water (16,999,561 m3), with
52.14% exceeded the white one (15,602,976 m3), without forgetting that it was a five-year
period marked by the drought, especially the years 2007, 2008 and 2009. The annual distribution
was as follows:
water demands for irrigation and supply (m3) served by the consortium of marina baja
(2005-2009)
Supply
white white refined
22.079.334 4.546.491 3.387.877
21.874.033 3.907.976 4.082.164
21.162.637 2.421.179 3.932.444
20.999.108 2.104.587 3.535.836
19.773.369 2.622.743 2.061.240

Fig 62 (p.323) recursos hidricos en ano de consorcio para abastecimiento de aguas la marina
baja
(water resources in consortium year for water supply la marina baja)
Regeneradas (3.004.583; 7%); subterraneas (9.185.482;22%) and superficiales (29.897.865;71%)

en 2008 la demanda de agua atendida por el consorcio ofrece la estructura siguiente

(in 2008 the demand for water served by the consortium offers the following structure)

Municipios Habitantes abastecimiento (m3) Riego(m3)

Benidorm 69.085 12.855.994 3.524.965
Villajoyosa 30.550 2.529.730 2.183.120
Altea 22.648 1.140.411 1.221.623
Alfaz del Pi 19.913 2.532.326 2.349.977
La Nucia 15.519 1.595.146 152.936
Finestrat 4.945 719.445 0
Polop 3.869 546.014 1.120.604
Otros (others) - 1.428.328 0
Total 166.529 25.147.176 16.860.495 ***

*** os totales incluyen 1.799.782 y 6.307.270 m3 del municipo de callosa dEn Sarria, que si
bien puede abastecerse desde el embalse de guadalest, lo hace directamente de los acuiferos de
Algar y Polop y en 2008, por completo del primero
(the totals include 1,799,782 and 6,307,270 m3 of the município of callosa dEn Sarria, which
although it can be supplied from the Guadalest reservoir, it does so directly from the Algar and
Polop aquifers and in 2008, completely from the first)

Table in page 250

;
Extreme alternative in the summer-autumn of 1978: naval transfer or «closure» of
Benidorm
The Alicante region of the Marina Baja is part of the geographical region of the Southeast
Iberian, the driest of the Peninsula and Europe, with a low rainfall regime, irregular intense and
intense, which combines harsh and prolonged droughts with sporadic deluges. By its leeward
character against the general circulation of the west, proximity to subsidence subtropical,
neighborhood of the Sahara, retracted position in the basin of the Western Mediterranean

and wide incidence of the relief, which determines the foehn effect on the west flow and shelter,
with pluviometric dissymmetry, with respect to the Atlantic squalls, the geographical region of
Southeast is the most exposed of the Peninsula to the natural risk of droughts. Nor does the The
layout of the coast is foreign to the lack of rainfall; prototypical example constitutes the change of
course of the coast to the south of the Cape of the Nao, that, when exchanging the one of NE-SW
by NW-SE, protects from the storms of the northeast, and motivates that, with few ilometers of
distance, the average annual rainfall volumes of the Marquesat (Denia, 674 mm) are reduce by half
in the Marina Baja (Benidorm, 344).

The previous biennium dried up, in March 1978 the situation was so serious that it the City Council
of Benidorm agreed drastic restrictions on water supply, contracted only 7 hours a day; At the
same time, the steps were intensified, everything in the Ministry of Public Works, to urge solutions.
As immediate, it is resolved saw resort to the exploitation of San Vicente Well, in the Polop
Aquifer, which supposed an additional contribution, clearly insufficient, of 40 l / s. And with such
a supply Extremely precarious, at the height of the tourist season, he endured with great difficulty
until August 20, the date on which the level of the almost non-existent reserves of the Guadalest
was below the intake gallery, and the installation of bombs became precise submersible to extract
the last cubic meters. Easy is to imagine, not so much reproduce,
a continuous and growing citizen clamor, which was not long in adding cancellation of tourist
flights and cancellation of reservations. In short, the reserve of Guadalest, the Anguished balance
in the main Valencian tourist center was the following:

Water supplies were limited to 60-80 l / s of drinking water and another 100 of high salinity;
and on this meager volume gravitated a demand, for what remained of August, of 500 l / s, which
would drop to 400 in September and to 300-250 l / s by October.

At the beginning of September, at the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism, the most serious
The problem, extremely peremptory, ended in a resounding and unappealable dilemma:

Naval transfer of water resources or interruption of tourist activity ("closure") of Benidorm.

Subsequently, preautonomic and local authorities considered that, a Despite the difficulties of all
kinds, technical and financial, it was necessary to implement immediately the referred transfers,
through tankers, from the network in high Municipalized waters of Alicante, served primarily by
the Commonwealth of Channels of the Taibilla. To this effect, while the Civil Government
received the consent of both entities, the General Directorate of Maritime Transport, according to
the information received, considered the suitability of Naviera Ibérica, SA to provide such service.
East Naval bridge Alicante-Benidorm required to have the necessary loading facilities
and discharge: the first consisted basically of a 300 mm diameter pipe and 3 km long between El
Palmeral and Pier II of the Port of Alicante; more complex it was the second one, in Benidorm,
with marine conductions (575 m and diameter 300 mm in steel, and another 500 m of flexible
driving of 300 mm) and on land (1,716 m of 500 mm and 336 of 315), to which it was necessary
to add submarine Manifold, fields of buoys and esta-anchoring and berthing.

On October 3, 1978, said facilities were ready, and also the tankers "Juan de Cardona" (5,000 tons)
and "Luis de Requesens" (5,100 tons) Tm) remained at the disposal of the Benidorm City Council,
which would redeliver them to Naviera Ibérica, SA on December 4. It is estimated that the volume
of water transported by said boats in two months, October and November, totaled 500,000-550,000
m .
3

The total cost of the operation amounted to 170,000,000 pesetas, around 6,000,000 euros today,
of which 50,000,000 corresponded to freight charges. In sum, the cost of cubic meter of water
Transvasada rose to 309-340 ptas, a figure that multiplied by 20-23 the price (15 ptas / m ) 3

billed by Municipalized Waters of Alicante; said value, exorbitant in circumstances normal, it was
not given the particularity of the problem, since the risky and well resolved emergency operation
not only conjured very serious hygienic and health risks, but that, in addition, allowed, in last
instance, to save the image, so damaged and in mortal danger, of Benidorm. In addition, the
anguished experience protected and spurred actions that have allowed to face, with undoubted
success, the natural challenge of scarcity and irregularity of water availability in the region of the
Marina Baja.

Urban water supply and agricultural use: reclaimed water and wastewater
The determined purpose of increasing water resources, with sustainability criteria, and to optimize
its management, to guarantee the supply to populations and rationalize the
agricultural use, harmonizing both, went through a series of interelated, innovative and of
undoubted draft. Primarily, improvement of the systems of catchment, diversification of them,
adding, to epigeous and underground waters of the Algar-Guadalest and Amadorio basins, the
reuse of purified water and, in intense and lasting episodes of drought, the help of foreign flows;
reinforced said increase in availability due to a wide regulation of epigeas and subterraneans,
through the appropriate pumping and connection of the indicated river basins, as of regenerated
waste, through very flexible hydraulic infrastructures, capable of allow the accommodation to
rainfall circumstances, rather than disparate, completely opposite.

This set of actions should, in addition, make possible, the exchange of white water by regenerated,
through compensations and incentives, to allocate, preferably, the first to supply and the second,
exclusively, to irrigation. It should be noted that, due to the extraordinary development of tourism
activity and, with it, construction, in the distribution of the Consortium urban consumption far
exceeds the agricultural sector, with respective percentages in the last five years (2005-2009) of
76.46 and 23.54.

The urban demand was completely met with white water, and rose during that period to
105,888,481 m ; unlike, in the 32,602,537 m for irrigation, the regenerated waters (16,999,561
3 2
m ), with 52.14%, slightly
3 exceeded white (15,602,976 m ). The Annual distribution was as
3

follows:
Municipal water demands
Supply (m )3 Watering (m ) 3

White White Purified

22,079,334 4,546,491 3,387,877
21,874,033 3,907,976 4,082,164
21,162,637 2,421,179 3,932,444
20,999,108 2,104,587 3,535,836
19,773,369 2,622,743 2,061,240

In 2008, the structure of water demand served by the Consortium was: 1

Municipalities Population Supply (m ) 3 Watering (m )3

Benidorm 69,085 12,855,994 3,524,965

Villajoyosa 30,550 2,529,730 2,183,120
Altea 22,648 1,140,411 1,221,623
Alfaz del Pi 19,913 2,532,326 2,349,977
La Nucia 15,519 1,595,146 152,936
Finestrat 4.945 719,445 0
Polop 3.869 546.014 1,120,604
Others -------- 1,428,328 0
__________ ____________ ____________
TOTAL 166,529 25,147,176 1* 16,860,49

quadrupled, to a maximum of 680,000, with a consumption for that period of 51,000

m daily. Regarding the distribution of demand, the supply to populations, with
3

almost 60% (59.86), widely exceeded agricultural use.

The annual contrasts between the contributions of white and purified water, for the
interval 1996-2009, sometimes very marked, are largely dependent on the irregu-
rainfall larvity. In rainy years, the volumes distributed by the Consortium, for supply and irrigation,
they come, essentially, from rivers and springs. Examples prototypical constitute, in this regard,
the years 2004 and 2008, with very pronounced falls in the use of treated water, with only 9.49
and 13.27% of the total; and even less (8.43%) in 2009, a year that, in addition to rainy weather,
had the reserves accumulated in the preceding. Suffice it to recall some significant data: in 2004,
the Fuentes del Algar They provided 23% of the volume served, while increasing the reserves of
the reservoirs of Guadalest and Amadorio. The same happened in 2008: the flow
for supply and irrigation were procured, almost exclusively, by rivers and springs, without
barely pumping underground; even, the second half of September and beginning October, before
the forecast of heavy rains, to maintain the security guard in the dam, it was necessary to open the
bottom drainage of the Amadorio reservoir; practice this unavoidable under this conditioning, but
nothing pleasant to the users of supply mientos and, above all, irrigation.
Situation radically different from the previous one was that of the triennium 1999-2001, dry period,
with strong protagonism of the purified waters that contributed with 24.70%, 21.62 and 23,29 to
the demand to the Consortium. Shipping was also required, through the Aqueduct Tajo-Segura,
Postrasve and Conduction Fenollar-Rabasa-Amadorio, of Júcar flows, from the hiperembalse of
Alarcón, to guarantee the supply of the urban nuclei. In sum, today the guarantee of supply of the
Consortium to the municipalities of the Marina Baja lies in three fundamental systems (Algar-
Guadalest, Amadorio-Sella and Reuse of Purified Waters), to which it is added, in emergencies as
indicated, the Driving Fenollar-Rabasa-Amadorio

The pluviometric contrasts between the basins of Algar-Guadalest and Amadorio result very
notorious: with data from the 1961-90 series, the average annual rainfall of the first amounts to
690 mm, while the second (296) does not reach 300. Both regimes are vials, but with the essential
difference that the Algar corresponds to a temperate climate subtropical dry summer and
Mediterranean descent, while the second, assigned its basin to the geographical region of
southeastern Iberia, it is semi-arid subtropical dry summer and Mediterranean roots. The modules
also reflect this diversity, more than the foronomic data are historical; thus, in the interval from
1907-8 to 1933-34, the Guadalest, in Callosa, with a surface area of 121 km2 , registered a module
of 0.787 m3/s and specific flow of 6.50 l/s/ km2 ; figures that, in the interval 1908-9 to 1950-51,
for Algar, with 73 km in Algar, rose to 0.909 and 12.45. Of course, both values were much lower
2

for the Amadorio, which, in Orcheta (103 km2 ), was 0.102 m3 / s and only 0.99 l/s/km , condignos
2

to its condition of modest river-ravine