The Problem of Water Use in Rural Areas of Southwestern Spain: A Local Perspective

Abstract

Water is a key strategic resource, particularly in Mediterranean climate-type areas with impermeable rocks and shallow soils like Southwestern Spain. The region of Extremadura is commonly known by its large surface occupied by big dams (30% of water dammed in Spain) although this theoretical abundance of water does not hide other problems of use. In this study, we have interviewed 132 people from the municipality of Arroyo de San Serván in order to know what the problems related to water use are, especially those that concern local people the most. Regarding the use of water at home, 90% of interviewees spend less than 60 EUR per month for water and their mean degree of satisfaction about the service is 3.7 out of 7. The reason for this low value can be the excessive content of calcium and bad taste according to 82.1%. Therefore, 64.2% of people do not usually drink water from the tap. Around two thirds of these local people usually buy water in the supermarket or drink filtered water. Concerning agricultural activities, local people gave great importance to irrigation as a source of employment (5.6/7) and inputs (4.5/7), although their satisfaction decreases about the current price of water for agriculture (0.02 EUR m−3). In addition, they are really worried about the overuse of fertilizers and herbicides (5.4/7) and they think about the necessity of taking measures to reduce these problems (6.1/7) as well as to reduce some management problems such as supply cuts. In the last few years, private (swimming pools) and public leisure facilities (swimming pool and spa) have been built in spite of not being considered important by local people (3.6–4.0/7). Nevertheless, about 60% of them consider these common facilities very positive in terms of employment, tourism attractions and entertainment for local people.

Citizen and Educational Initiatives to Support Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation for All

“…Regarding water service level of satisfaction in Extremadura [43] is 3.7/7 which, in a scale of 5 means 2.64/5. Curiously, there is the same figure for the same area in our study, considering the management of the water.…”

“…Also, a wider social group and important target groups of the ODS such as retired or marginalised communities. Other interesting question that complete the item satisfaction on drinking water is if they drink water from the tap, used in other previous studies [43]. An interesting study about Spain [44] has the mean of 2.759/4 with a standard deviation of 0.802 for the general satisfaction of the tap water quality this specific topic (3.45/5).…”

The role of soils in regulation and provision of blue and green water

“…[37]), (ii) landscape disruption through gully erosion (e.g. [38]), (iii) flooding [39,40], (iv) loss of soil nutrients and associated downstream eutrophication of downstream water bodies [41], (v) reduction in freshwater supply [42], and finally, (vi) water scarcity [43].…”

An Ex Ante Analysis of the Planned Transportation Network in the Region of Extremadura (Spain) by Using Physical Parameters

“…At the same time, ongoing improvement of infrastructures for tourism along with the attractions of heritage and the environment are managing to position the so-called Raya (the frontier between Spain and Portugal in Extremadura) as an international tourist destination [32]; moreover, strong touristic potential linked to inland water [33], spa [34], cultural resources in rural areas [35] or sustainable hunting [36] has been quoted; and Rodríguez, Sánchez and Ramajo described Extremadura as "an emerging inland destination" [37]. Its status as an objective I region has made a considerable contribution to this, besides the application of the INTERREG Operational Programs (1990Programs ( -2006, the POCTEP (Operative Program of Cross Border Cooperation Spain-Portugal) (2007-2013), the INTERREG VA (2014-2020) [38] or the LEADER Approach (2007-2013) [39].…”