The mighty river Ebro is among the longest in the Iberian landmass, the river system is in threat as the river becomes bone dry. Some locally say “the waterway has fell by way of a non natural, man made change, and wont come back”.

The powerful river Ebro known for carp angling and monster catfish has been recorded on video close to Caspe, Aragón in northern Spain, the video shows the river at a record low.

The River Ebro waterways suffering started at the headwaters in Aragón. In 1902 an arrangement was designed to redirect water from here to other locations. The way of measuring the accessible water was misjudged and Spain’s current dry seasons weren’t factored in.

Today just 37% of the forecast reserves of water exist. Levels in headwaters and dams are seriously down – to a 10% all time low limit, which is too low to permit any more exchanges. These issues come direct from the re-routing and overestimating the accessible assets. The exchange has made a social and political collision and could turn into another environmental fiasco. Redirecting the headwaters is allowed when the once dams have adequate water – beforehand this was only a choice not just a certification of supply.

The administration recently passed a law that says – when there is a surplus there is a commitment to change it.The law and regulations contradicts the European water order and when an EU assignment went by the Ebro river recently a report was issued stating that – “Spain’s did not have the ability to comply and follow the mandate”.

Where does the water from the river Ebro go?

The diverted water from the River Ebro can go to Madrid’s 6 million residents, or Golf Courses in Spain, and to agriculture in the South. The capital Madrid has been criticized for its waste of water and water treatment, but it’s difficult to know exactly where the water ends up, it could also be used to cool some of Spain’s atomic reactors.

Regarding water and beyond

Is Spain is living past its and beyond it’s resources and methods. We are seeing time and time again the over-abuse of both ground and surface water. Water, which should be considered or described as a rare asset in Spain, yet right now it’s hard to contemplate.

While many of us ponder over the exchanged water and how it is utilized, we have to confront reality and manage the ecological ramifications. You can only get so much from a river, and those who demand it, will soon have to live up to the fact that you cannot take a river away and kill it, a limit should be set, and later those who demand it should be obliged to live and think in another way. What do you think? Do you have more videos showing dry rivers locally, or a similar story in your area?

Spain’s water administration has been driven by financial and economical aspects, not environmental or natural ideologies.