Gecko Towers:
Over eighteen months ago I had the idea, in the depth of a horrible period of drought on the Costa del Sol, to report on the state of the local water supply and, in particular, the local reservoir near to my home in San Pedro de Alcantara. It seemed to be a barometer of the state of the preparedness of the local environment to deal with the harshness – sometimes – of the climate.
Scorching summers rising the mercury to nearly 50 degrees C and invariably dry Springs and Winters. The culmination of these conditions led over the last two years to a period of drought as defined by normal environmental parameters. Then came water restriction and containment. A daily limit on the per person use, no irrigation of gardens, no car washing and, perhaps the most inconvenient, no swimming pool filling. The situation eased somewhat in May 2024 partially as a result of pressure from the local tourist economy to “Save the Season”.
It is with some wide-eyed astonishment that our featured image shows the front page of this week’s edition of the local English language version of the Sur, a long-time Southern Spanish title. The shock associated with the events reported is palpable and begs for a better solution. But here we are. Desalination plants are being revved up to cope with the worst excesses of the former lack of water while from most of the reservoirs along the coast the most recent deluge of biblical quantities of rain water have led to the need to allow significant quantities to be released into, yes you guessed it…the Sea!
As the report says seven of the local reservoirs have let go sufficient water to serve the needs of a city like Malaga for a year!
Last Thursday the total of all water in the regions seven reservoirs sat at an average capacity of 53%, with some like our local reservoir just tipping 90%. An astonishing total, last week, of 325 Hm3 of water across all the regions reservoirs after discharge of 50m cubic meters of water. This is particualrly focusing when you consider the 2024 total for the same week was just 113m cubic meters, which prompted the emergency drought decrees.
It is considered that further formal positions from the Provincial government will record the new normality of the region with others previously in the most severe drought conditions moving to “moderate”.
Deputies from the Junta de Andalucia have visited the regions worst affected and commiserated with the farmers and local residents addressing concerns. Promises have been made that neglected pipelines will be regenerated, the capacity of existing dams will be increased and investment will be made to extend storage system for, especially, reclaimed water. As the latter is seen a a partial answer to irrigation in those areas where supply is not plentiful. However, the construction of a pipeline to feed excess water from one reservoir, such as Istan, to others requiring topping up is seen as unfeasible.
Aside from the easing of tensions over the state of water supply in the region, the impact of the recent deluge has been to transform the previously tinder dry conditions into an abundant emerald green landscape peppered by colourful bloom of white and yellow daisies, radiant blue irises and bright purple thistles. The trees and grass have taken on a new intense green. The hydrated foliage, blossoming trees and bushes is simply magical. A carpet of colour to welcome the Spring season.
I am equally excited to report that as from this last weekend we seem to, perhaps, have a pause in the downpours experience over nearly a month. The weather predictions for the next week – from Monday 24.03 – are a return to the true nature of the Costa del Sol with wall-to-wall Sun!
My only hope is that we have all learned the painful lessons of recent months and, at the risk of being a little preachy, want to restate the objectives of a piece I wrote in October last year – see here –
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