Crisis water saves crops

LA NUCIA had to arrange an emergency transfer of water for the town’s principal irrigation channel.

There is a critical shortage of water for crops and the town hall had to negotiate with the Marina Baja Water Consortium to get the extra water.

The consortium’s pipeline has been sending 15 litres of water per second to the town’s principal Sequia Mare or ‘mother canal’ whose 25 kilometres of main and secondary channels maintain local agriculture.

The Sequia Mare rises between Polop and La Nucia, collecting water from five natural springs which have now practically dried up.  

Much-needed water has finally reached the fruit trees of local growers who watched with alarm as continuing drought threatened their crops. 

The area received only 24 litres of rain per square metre in the first seven months of this year.  “Let’s hope the autumn brings enough rain to replenish the springs,” said La Nucia’s Mayor Bernabe Cano.