Tajo Reservoirs Reach Full Capacity, Water Sent to Segura

The reservoirs of Entrepeñas and Buendía have reached a maximum capacity of 1,639.67 hm3, representing 65.11% of their total capacity. In response, the Commission of Exploitation for the Tajo-Segura Transfer has proposed releasing 180 hm3 of water over the next three months to the Segura basin. This significant rise in water levels has not been observed since the late 1990s, highlighting a crucial moment in regional water management amidst ongoing debates over water transfer policies.

The implications of this development underscore the tension between managing the Tajo's resources sustainably and the political commitments tied to water transfers. While the approved 2023 Plan Hidrológico aimed at progressive reduction of water transfers to focus on the long-term recovery of the Tajo, political entanglements have delayed the necessary regulations. This situation creates the risk of exacerbating dependency on external water sources, impacting both local ecosystems and agricultural practices influenced by fluctuating water availability.