Adaptation Strategies of the Hydrosocial Cycles in the Mediterranean Region

Ana Arahuetes,Antonio Rico,María Hernández

doi:10.3390/w10060790

Abstract

The Spanish Mediterranean region has been affected by several factors over the years (climatic conditions of aridity, high water demands, rapid and intense urban and population growth, climate change), that have generated a negative water balance whereby water resources are unable to meet the demand. Diversifying supply sources by resorting to new resources has been a necessity that has stimulated the expansion and integration of non-conventional water sources (desalination and reuse of reclaimed water) and sustainable solutions. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the adaptation strategies that have been developed in Alicante, Benidorm and Torrevieja in order to adjust their hydrosocial cycles to development and future scenarios. The theoretical analysis developed in this paper is corroborated by the study of the hydrosocial cycle evolution of three cities in the southeast of Spain, and the adaptive measures that the different stakeholders involved in the cycle have developed in each of them. The input and output of the systems are accounted for with information provided by the management companies in each of the phases (urban consumption; treated, reused and desalinated volumes), which highlight how the diversification of resources and the incorporation of non-conventional resources have been essential for adaptation.

Highlights

Despite the fact that water was conceived as being an unlimited, resurgent resource throughout history, since the middle of the 20th century it has been considered as a natural, economic and social asset of limited and limiting value [1,2]
[43], higher quality water volumes can be released for priority uses, with this non-conventional conventional resource being used in compliance with the R.D. 1620/2007, mainly for the agricultural resource being used incrops, compliance theextent, R.D. 1620/2007, mainlyrecreational for the agricultural irrigation irrigation of certain and to awith lesser for certain urban, and industrial uses. of certain crops, andrequirements to a lesser extent, certain urban, and industrial uses
A large number of countries, like Israel, Spain or the west coast of the USA, have resorted to diversification of water sources, combining traditional underground and superficial waters with non-conventional water resources such as reclaimed water, desalinated water or rainwater. These additions result in a need to increase, over the years, the water capacity of the hydrosocial cycle of these cities in order to adapt and meet the new demands

Summary

Introduction

Despite the fact that water was conceived as being an unlimited, resurgent resource throughout history, since the middle of the 20th century it has been considered as a natural, economic and social asset of limited and limiting value [1,2]. The combination of the growth of population along with the associated water demand, climate change, an increase in demand as a result of changes in economic activities (the intensification of agricultural practices and the diffusion of tourist uses and urban areas) has aggravated the decrease of resources in several places, leading to the need to diversify water sources. This situation occurs even though recent data on water consumption, at least in the developed world, indicates the end of the rising trend in water consumption [4].

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Conclusion