This infrastructure, with an investment of 2,264,300.72 euros, is expected to last six months and will guarantee a water allocation of 190 cubic meters per hectare for irrigators during peak water demand, especially during drought episodes. The beneficiary municipalities are la Palma d'Ebre, Margalef, la Bisbal de Montsant, Cabacés, la Vilella Baixa, and la Figuera.
“"The Government must get to work to modernize irrigation systems, become more resilient, and be better prepared."
The project will activate a 3,830-meter pipeline that will transport water from the Garrigues Sud pumping station, which draws from the Flix reservoir, to the Montsant network. This water will be pumped by gravity to the Margalef reservoir, a solution that Minister Ordeig highlighted as crucial in situations of water scarcity, as the Flix reservoir “normally does not have problems.”
“"This is a crucial project to guarantee the survival of these towns in the Priorat and Ribera d'Ebre. Without water, there is no way to retain young people, have viable farms, fight climate change, or combat fires with more agricultural mosaic."
The Montsant Irrigators Community, which holds a concession from the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation (CHE) since 1999, currently irrigates 2,553.90 hectares of crops. The president of the Montsant irrigators, Ricard Massip, argued that the work reinforces the country's food autonomy, as farmers must have guaranteed water to earn a sustainable living.
