Association issues a reminder that efficient water management is crucial to the province’s economic success
The Association of Irrigation Communities of Huelva, Huelva Riega, has published a press release highlighting the decisive role that this resource plays as an economic, social and territorial engine of the province on World Water Day.
The association stressed that talking about water in Huelva “is not only talking about the environment or rainfall, but also about employment, agricultural activity, industrial development and future opportunities for the entire Huelva society”.
Huelva Riega’s president, Fernando González, pointed out that the berry sector is one of the province’s key economic engines. Between January and November of last year, Huelva exported 313,032 tonnes of berries worth €1.45bn. “This data confirm that water not only supports crops: it also supports exports, income and economic activity,” he said.
The association also stressed that Huelva irrigation has been advancing in efficiency for years. Berry cultivation takes up 1.5 per cent of the province’s total land and 100 per cent of commercial berry farms use localised or drip irrigation. Overall, irrigated agriculture accounts for just 5 per cent of Huelva’s total acreage.
The association pointed out that implementation of pending water infrastructure projects would boost availability, reinforcing the water security of the province and favouring the replacement of groundwater with surface water.
Huelva Riega has been warning for some time that water is a strategic factor for new projects, especially in areas such as green hydrogen. Furthermore, infrastructures such as the Alcolea dam are beneficial not only for agriculture, but also for the population and industry.
“Water is a first-class economic infrastructure for Huelva. Sectors that generate employment, establish population, export, attract investment and sustain the development of the province depend on it. Therefore, defending efficient water management and demanding pending works is not a sectoral demand: it is a collective need,” González said.
In this sense, the association noted that “the province cannot continue depending on a hydraulic system that is insufficient to respond to current needs”. Huelva Riega reiterated its call for progress in strategic actions such as the Alcolea dam, the transfer to the Condado, the expansion of the San Silvestre tunnel, Bocachanza II, the Trigueros canal and hydrological planning infrastructure, claiming they are essential to guarantee water for all uses: agricultural, industrial, urban and environmental.
“On the occasion of World Water Day, Huelva Riega wants to convey a clear message: the province needs to continue advancing in sustainability, efficiency and modernisation, but also in planning and execution. Because in Huelva, every well-managed hectometre not only ensures resources; it also ensures competitiveness, stability and future,” the association said.
