The hydraulic infrastructure, essential for traditional irrigation in the Camp d’Elx, Vega Baixa, and Crevillent areas, is now almost ready to distribute water among its members. The renovation of a deteriorated section (over a kilometer) and the successful completion of this week's load test mark the end of the works. The relaunch will progressively restore water flow to the El Hondo Natural Park after six months of halted pumping.
The project, funded by the Generalitat Valenciana, involved the comprehensive refurbishment of just over a kilometer of the canal between the Observatory's drainage channel and the southern gate of El Hondo, extending to Vistabella. This section had suffered significant structural damage due to time and recent flood events. The president of Riegos de Levante, Roque Bru Bonet, confirmed that the infrastructure has passed the technical checks without leaks or issues.
Once its proper functioning is verified, Riegos de Levante will gradually channel water towards the wetland and resume supply to the members. However, the restoration of flow to the El Hondo reservoirs will be progressive to avoid disturbing the nesting season for birds. The aim is to renew the accumulated water in the Levante and Poniente reservoirs without negatively impacting the park's fauna during its breeding season. The association is also working to prevent environmental problems like botulism outbreaks, aided by recent rainfall and moderate temperatures.
Beyond its agricultural and environmental roles, the main canal plays a strategic part in managing torrential rains and DANA events. It serves as an evacuation and hydraulic regulation route for waters from the Vega Baixa and the Segura river basin. Bru Bonet highlighted the improved response capacity for future floods, as the renovated section can help evacuate large volumes of water. This initiative is part of the Generalitat Valenciana's efforts to mitigate the effects of storms.
The president of the irrigation community emphasized the need to continue strengthening hydraulic infrastructures against increasingly extreme weather phenomena. He noted that urban growth and the expansion of paved surfaces accelerate surface runoff. Therefore, he called for investments in systems for storing and managing floodwaters. The main canal's renovation complements other planned investments under the Vega Renhace Phase 2 plan.
The next major project for Riegos de Levante will be the modernization of the third canal between Matola and the Santa Pola pumping station. Concurrently, the association is developing projects with European funds and PERTE initiatives for modernizing irrigation and digitalization. These efforts aim to secure traditional irrigation for over 25,000 hectares of agricultural land and ensure the water balance of El Hondo.
