Magre River Dries Up: Xúquer Viu Denounces Water Shortage in Algemesí

The environmental group calls on the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation to guarantee ecological flow and regulate water extraction amid flora and fauna deaths.

Generic image of a dry river with stagnant pools and dead fish.
IA

Generic image of a dry river with stagnant pools and dead fish.

The Magre River presents a worrying sight near Algemesí, with only stagnant pools of water remaining where fish and crabs are dying, prompting Xúquer Viu's complaint about the lack of flow.

The Magre River has experienced a drastic drop in its flow near Algemesí over the past week. What had recovered part of its ecosystem in recent years after overflowing during the storm of October 29, 2024, now only holds a few stagnant pools of water, causing the death of fish and crabs.
The spokesperson for the platform Xúquer Viu, Isidre Pegenaute, explains that the flow has decreased considerably, leaving the river practically dry since last Thursday and Friday. This situation contrasts with the Basin's hydrological plan, which stipulates an ecological flow of 230 liters per second to ensure the survival of fauna.
Xúquer Viu has reported the situation to the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation. According to Pegenaute, the Confederation assures that water usage between Real and Llombai is being respected, but the water is not reaching the final stretch of the Magre. "Right now, what the Confederation must do is release more water, because they say that in Forata they are releasing it, but it gets lost along the way and doesn't arrive. The problem is that there is an overexploitation of resources," he denounces.
Therefore, the platform calls on the Confederation to declare the Utiel-Requena aquifer in poor condition and to develop a specific plan to regulate water extraction.