Drought continues to be one of the main problems in Andalusia and one of the biggest challenges it faces. Between the absence of rain and high temperatures, the region has lost 28.5 percent of its water reserves in 2023, since the community’s reservoirs close the year at 20.10 percent, with 2,405 hm3, which which is 994 hm3 less than what the community had when 2022 ended.
This situation has had a negative impact on the main economic sectors of the area, such as agriculture, where there has been a chain of years of water reduction for irrigation, therefore, many crop plots have been left deserted due to lack of this resource.
It has been the Confederation of Businessmen of Andalusia (CEA) that has today demanded from the Administration “innovative” responses to the “threat” that the drought poses to employment and the Andalusian GDP facing 2024, in which it represents one of the “great challenges” to be faced. Thus, he has emphasized that this “structural problem” that causes a “domino effect” in economic activities requires a shock plan against the water deficit.
The latest report on the evolution of the drought of the Board has confirmed a new decrease of 5 hm3 (-0.04%) of the water impounded in the autonomous community, to 2,405 hm3, which represents 20.10% of the total capacity (11,966 hm3). Compared to the situation a year ago on these same dates, 994 hm3 less are recorded, since the stored resources were 3,487 hm3. The community began 2023 with 28.3 percent of its water reserves, but the situation of persistent drought has caused the dammed water to now be 8.2 points less than the total capacity, according to data provided by the regional administration.
In the Guadalquivir Hydrographic Demarcation there has been a decrease of 1 hm3 (-0.01%) to 1,549 hm3, which represents 19.29% of its total storage capacity, which is 8,030 hm3. As of December 22, 380 hm3 are recorded, compared to just one year ago, when the stored resources were 1,929 hm3. In 2022, this basin was at 24.05% of its capacity, and 10 years ago, at 48.58%.
In the Andalusian Mediterranean Basins, the dammed water has decreased in the same week by 3 hm3 (-0.26%) and they are at 19.52% of their capacity, storing 225 hm3. In one year, the decrease has been 217 hm3. In 2022, the figure for dammed water was 37.9%; 47.17% if compared to data from a decade ago.
For its part, the Guadalete-Barbate demarcation has not registered any variation and remains with 241 hm3 impounded, which represents 14.60%, with the total storage capacity being 1,651 hm3. A year ago it had 234 hm3 more, with 475 hm3, which represented 29.19%. 10 years ago, reserves were at 52.00%.
The Tinto-Odiel-Piedras-Chanza basin accumulates 390 hm3 of impounded water resources, being at 34.98% of its capacity after a recorded decrease of 1 hm3 (-0.09). Just one year ago there were 163 hm3 more than today, which represented 29.19%.
The Andalusian employers’ association today took stock of 2023 and reviewed the challenges facing next year in a statement in which it highlights the water shortage as “a structural problem” and recalls that it has demanded on several occasions a shock plan against the water deficit. He has insisted that the drought has a “domino effect” in all sectors of activity, from agriculture to industry, which requires, the CEA has maintained, “innovative” responses from the Administration “in alliance with companies.”
In the opinion of businessmen, Andalusia has continued to consolidate its stability and economic growth throughout 2023, a year “for which balance it is necessary to maintain prudence, given the international uncertainty due to active conflicts and sociopolitical instability in Spain.”
For this reason, they highlight the need for “stability and legal security to encourage investment and generate trust” and highlight the Social and Economic Pact to Promote Andalusia, signed in March with the Board and the unions, as one of the “trumps” with those that the community closes in 2023.