08 Jul The CH Miño-Sil analyses the hydro-meteorological variables at the 6th meeting of the Technical Office for Drought
- The lack of precipitation during the current hydrological year, which began on 1 October, means that this will be the driest between 1980 and 2021.
- The average rainfall up to 30 June 2022 is 603 l/m2, 40.7% less than the historical average of 1,017.5 l/m2.
The current scenarios are normal in the Miño Alto and Baixo Miño, pre-alert in the Sil basin (upper and lower) and alert in the Cabe and Limia river basins. - “From the CHMS we urge the rational use of the resource, let’s remember that only together we will be able to face the effects of this prolonged drought” concluded Quiroga.
The Miño-Sil Hydrographic Confederation (CHMS), an autonomous body under the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, has held the 6th meeting of the Technical Office of the Miño-Sil Hydrographic Confederation’s Drought Technical Office, which was set up last February.
Firstly, the data of the different hydrometeorological variables were analysed; thus, during the month of June an average rainfall of 72.7 l/m2 was recorded, 47% higher than the average value, making it a wet month in the Sil and Limia basins, and a very wet month in the Miño and Cabe basins.
Despite this, the lack of precipitation accumulated during the current hydrological year, which began on 1 October, means that we are facing the driest hydrological year in the 1980/81 to 2020/2021 series, after 2016/2017, 2004/2005 and 2011/2012, which experienced situations similar to this year.
It is important to highlight that the average rainfall in the demarcation up to 30 June 2022 has been 603 l/m2, 40.7% below the average (1,017.5 l/m2).
On the other hand, reservoirs are at 53.25%, 23% lower than the historical average and 9.6% less than last year, 63%. Likewise, the circulating flows recorded during the month of June have been 41% lower than usual and the piezometric levels are, on average, 11% lower than usual.
Taking all of the above into account and in accordance with the current drought plan, the current scenarios are normal in both the Miño Alto and Baixo Miño, pre-alert in the Sil basin and alert in the Cabe and Limia river basins.
Since 2000, similar scenarios to the current one have occurred in 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2017, which shows the adverse effects of climate change.
The CHMS has sent communications to the local councils in the demarcation, urging them to make sustainable use of water and apply water-saving measures, as well as to other water users, such as irrigation communities and hydroelectric companies, to adopt measures to improve efficiency in the use of the resource.
With this in mind, social awareness campaigns have been carried out through the media, the WEB and RRSS, with the aim of preventing the impact of the drought, both on the environment and on the different uses.
“Given that medium-term forecasts predict that the drought situation will continue over the next few months, it is essential to make sustainable use of water and continue with water saving and social awareness measures by the Administrations, above all by the Town Councils, the competent administration for supplying water to towns and cities”, said the president of the CHMS.
“From the CHMS we urge the rational use of the resource, let us remember that only together we can face the effects of this prolonged drought” concluded Quiroga.