Malaga's Reservoirs stand at 33% of their total capacity

 

Last week the province's reserves fell by the equivalent of a month's consumption

 

Wells run the risk of over use

 

 

 

IGNACIO LILLO

Showers, washing machines, dish-washers, mops... Each litre of water that goes down the drain is one more litre gone from the reservoirs that supply water to the province. With just over 200cubic hectometres of water, Mala­ga's reservoirs are at their lowestlevels of the year so far, and unfor­tunately, it seems that they will remain that way until the first drops of autumn rain fall.

Malaga's underground wells, whose levels also drop during the summer period, run the risk of over-use which could present a problem. To combat this, the province is relying exclusively on the Guadalhorce, Vinuela and Concepcion reservoirs.

Antonio Rodriguez Leal, Pres­ident of the Andalusian Water Board (CMA), has pointed out that 50 per cent (21 cubic hectometres)of the drinking water in Malagacomes from underground reservesand the Rio Grande, which is sit­uated between the Guaro and Tolox municipalities, during thewinter and spring. Another 30 percent (15 cubic hectometres) comesfrom the Guadalhorce, and La Vinuela reservoir provide a fur­ther 15 per cent (4 hectometres).

 

Last week one the reserves fellby 6.5 cubic hectometres, whichrepresents ten per cent of the city'sannual consumption - the great­est drop so far this year. Accord­ing to the CMA president, this isdue in part to the Guadalhorceirrigation process devised by theDrought Committee on July 24th,which uses up 1.5 cubic hectome­tres a week. "Add to this the mas­sive increase in the tourist popu­lation", explains Leal, "and the intense heat during the summer, which causes natural evaporationin the reservoirs". As far as week­ly water consumption goes, 25 percent is due to irrigation, 73 per centhuman consumption, and two percent is due to evaporation.

The CMA president admits thatthe situation is considerably worsethis year, but remains optimistic:"We have reserves in Vinuela andConcepcion to supply the worst affected areas, and it's sure to rainsoon enough", he explains.  La Vinuela and Concepcion reservoirs stand at 44 and 86 percent of their capacity respective­ly. In contrast, the Limonero andGuadalteba reservoirs stand at just12 and nine per cent respectively

 

Sur in English 11/08/2006