03 Oct The 2021-22 hydrological year ends as the 2nd driest in the historical series after 2016/17.
- Cumulative rainfall is 39% below the historical average
- “…It is essential that local councils maintain the saving measures and continue to raise awareness among the population about the rational and responsible use of WATER”, concluded the president.
The Miño-Sil Hydrographic Confederation, an autonomous body under the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, takes stock of the hydrological year 2021-2022, which began on 01 October 2021 and ended on 30 September, and which concludes as the 2nd driest year in the historical series, behind 2016/17.
“We are facing a situation of generalised prolonged drought in the demarcation due to the lack of rainfall; on a monthly basis we could highlight June as wet; October and August as dry; and November, January, February, April, May and July as very dry,” explained the president.
Rainfall level
The average cumulative rainfall was 694.6 l/m2, 39 % below the historical average. In the previous hydrological year, 2020/21, a rainfall of 1,159.4 l/m2 was recorded, 2% above the average and 67% above that of the year 2021/22.
Analysing the results in each of the territorial units into which the Demarcation is divided, the hydrological year 2021/22 is categorised as “extremely dry”, precipitation below the minimum of the historical series, in the Miño bajo and Limia units, and “very dry” in the rest, Miño Alto, Sil Superior, Sil Inferior and Cabe.
Reservoirs
The Demarcation’s reservoirs closed the hydrological year at 43.73% of their maximum capacity. This volume is 0.88% higher than the amount of water stored a year ago, 42.86%, and 10.81% lower than the historical average filling at this time of year, 54.54%.
Circulating flows
With regard to the circulating flows at the end of the hydrological year, 30 September, it is on average 28.4% below the historical average.
“Bearing in mind these data and that medium-term forecasts predict that the drought situation will persist, it is essential that the local councils maintain their water saving measures and continue to raise awareness among the population about the rational and responsible use of WATER, reminding them that we are dealing with an essential and limited resource that depends on climatic conditions”, concluded the president of the CHMS (Miño-Sil Hydrographic Confederation).
Source: CHMS