Water Case Study: Ebro River, Spain

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

1. July 2001 Spanish govt approved scheme to divert water from lower Ebro valley to supply cities, farmers + tourists in parched southeast of country
2. 3 years later, newly elected govt cancelled diversion project + replaced it with cheaper more localised schemes e.g. desalination plants

Question 2

The case for the Proposal

Answer 2

• 1. Big international investors concerned as they marketed south-east of Spain as ‘new Florida’
• Vast tourist developments between Alicante and Almeria costing billions of Euros, many based on new golf courses, were to be sited in areas supplied with Ebro water
• People living in south-east Spain saw scheme as beginning of new future i.e. the development of holiday homes, golf resorts and Europes biggest tourism complex at Cabo Cape. Desalination is unproven

Question 3

The case against the proposal

Answer 3

1. environmentalists in north protested that diversion scheme was misuse of scarce resource + would have drastic impact on Ebro and its fragile delta
2. Environment Minister claimed desalination plants would provide same amount of water sooner and cheaper
3. New national govt promised to improve water recycling + make irrigation systems more efficient
4. Environmentalists also claimed aquifers of Ebro basin were already drying out because of over extraction