Perspectives of operation of the Tagus-Segura Transfer (Spain): new rules of operation and the impulse of the desalination as replacement resource

The Tagus-Segura Transfer has become since its inauguration in 1979 in one of the hydraulic infrastructures with more interterritorial tensions in Spain. This is due to his strategic value for the development of the peninsular southeast where it attends agricultural and urban-tourist water consumption with great social and economic implications. The objective of this research is analyze the causes and the possible consequences of the operation of the Tagus-Segura Transfer with the recent modification of his exploitation rules (increase of the level of no transfer in 400 hm3 in the headwater) and the increase of the desalination in the receiving regions as a replacement of transfers. To this end, the effects of the operation of the new exploitation rules and the possible alternatives have been analyzed to resolve a conflict that gets worse during each cycle of intense and prolonged drought, without the State and the autonomies through hydrological planning, has given a satisfactory response to the donor and recipient regions.