A businessman in Murcia is currently under investigation for allegedly stealing around 34 million cubic metres of water over 17 years to irrigate a golf course. The water was reportedly taken illegally from an overexploited underground aquifer using 15 unauthorised wells and five depleted springs.
The Guardia Civil estimates the environmental damage caused by this illegal extraction at €65 million.
Exceeding permitted irrigation area with stolen water
The authorities are accusing the suspect, who managed a residential development in Murcia, of exceeding the permitted irrigation area by nearly four times, using the stolen water to irrigate 21.97 hectares instead of the authorised 5.3 hectares. This illegal activity has raised concerns about the potential long-term effects on the already overexploited aquifer, which is critical for maintaining the balance of local ecosystems.
Illegal wells constructed at night
The Guardia Civil, in collaboration with environmental agents from the Segura Hydrographic Confederation, began investigating the case after receiving reports from local residents. Moreover, they noticed that the suspect constructed wells at night. Aerial surveillance confirmed the unauthorised expansion of the green area in a dry region where the aquifer is under both qualitative and quantitative stress.
Water theft and environmental crimes
The accused is now facing charges of water theft and environmental crimes, with the damages calculated not only on the basis of the illegal water extraction but also on the cost of restoring the damaged environment and the loss of ecosystem services. The case highlights the ongoing challenges of water management in regions with scarce resources, particularly in the face of illegal activities that threaten environmental sustainability.
Murcia is currently the autonomous region in Spain suffering the most from the ongoing drought. Based on data of embalses.net the water reserves in the region are only filled to 22.97% of their capacity.
Also read: Illegal water extraction in Murcia