Are Non-Conventional Water Resources the Solution for the Structural Water Deficit in Mediterranean Agriculture? The Case of the Segura River Basin in Spain
The water sustainability of the Segura River Basin (SRB), located in southeastern Spain, is being challenged as conventional available water sources fall short of meeting the authorised demands of the basin. In recent years, non-conventional water (NCW), such as desalinated and reclaimed water, has...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/7/929 |
| _version_ | 1797211946620026880 |
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| author | Almudena Gómez-Ramos Irene Blanco-Gutiérrez Mario Ballesteros-Olza Paloma Esteve |
| author_facet | Almudena Gómez-Ramos Irene Blanco-Gutiérrez Mario Ballesteros-Olza Paloma Esteve |
| author_sort | Almudena Gómez-Ramos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The water sustainability of the Segura River Basin (SRB), located in southeastern Spain, is being challenged as conventional available water sources fall short of meeting the authorised demands of the basin. In recent years, non-conventional water (NCW), such as desalinated and reclaimed water, has become part of the resource pool. However, it has not yet become crucial for irrigation water supply due to its relatively high cost and lower quality compared to conventional water. The new political framework in Spain, developed in the context of ecological transition, marks a notable shift for non-conventional water as a strategic resource for agriculture. This study examines the drivers and barriers influencing its acceptance through an analysis of farmers’ perceptions, conducted through interviews with twelve irrigation communities’ (ICs) representatives of the basin. Discriminant analyses of the data show that the farmers’ experience, along with factors pertaining to production, storage, and transportation costs, determines the acceptance and use of NCW. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:34:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d779953f96c47fea59a11e755a34593 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:34:34Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d779953f96c47fea59a11e755a345932024-04-12T13:26:58ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412024-03-0116792910.3390/w16070929Are Non-Conventional Water Resources the Solution for the Structural Water Deficit in Mediterranean Agriculture? The Case of the Segura River Basin in SpainAlmudena Gómez-Ramos0Irene Blanco-Gutiérrez1Mario Ballesteros-Olza2Paloma Esteve3Institute of Economy, Geography and Demography, CCHS, Spanish Council for Scientific Research, 28037 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Statistics and Business Management, ETSIAAB, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Av. Puerta de Hierro 2-4, 28040 Madrid, SpainCentro de Estudios e Investigación para la Gestión de Riesgos Agrarios y Medioambientales (CEIGRAM), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Senda del Rey 13, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Statistics and Business Management, ETSIAAB, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Av. Puerta de Hierro 2-4, 28040 Madrid, SpainThe water sustainability of the Segura River Basin (SRB), located in southeastern Spain, is being challenged as conventional available water sources fall short of meeting the authorised demands of the basin. In recent years, non-conventional water (NCW), such as desalinated and reclaimed water, has become part of the resource pool. However, it has not yet become crucial for irrigation water supply due to its relatively high cost and lower quality compared to conventional water. The new political framework in Spain, developed in the context of ecological transition, marks a notable shift for non-conventional water as a strategic resource for agriculture. This study examines the drivers and barriers influencing its acceptance through an analysis of farmers’ perceptions, conducted through interviews with twelve irrigation communities’ (ICs) representatives of the basin. Discriminant analyses of the data show that the farmers’ experience, along with factors pertaining to production, storage, and transportation costs, determines the acceptance and use of NCW.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/7/929non-conventional waterirrigationwater scarcitySegura River Basinfarmers’ perceptions |
| spellingShingle | Almudena Gómez-Ramos Irene Blanco-Gutiérrez Mario Ballesteros-Olza Paloma Esteve Are Non-Conventional Water Resources the Solution for the Structural Water Deficit in Mediterranean Agriculture? The Case of the Segura River Basin in Spain Water non-conventional water irrigation water scarcity Segura River Basin farmers’ perceptions |
| title | Are Non-Conventional Water Resources the Solution for the Structural Water Deficit in Mediterranean Agriculture? The Case of the Segura River Basin in Spain |
| title_full | Are Non-Conventional Water Resources the Solution for the Structural Water Deficit in Mediterranean Agriculture? The Case of the Segura River Basin in Spain |
| title_fullStr | Are Non-Conventional Water Resources the Solution for the Structural Water Deficit in Mediterranean Agriculture? The Case of the Segura River Basin in Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Are Non-Conventional Water Resources the Solution for the Structural Water Deficit in Mediterranean Agriculture? The Case of the Segura River Basin in Spain |
| title_short | Are Non-Conventional Water Resources the Solution for the Structural Water Deficit in Mediterranean Agriculture? The Case of the Segura River Basin in Spain |
| title_sort | are non conventional water resources the solution for the structural water deficit in mediterranean agriculture the case of the segura river basin in spain |
| topic | non-conventional water irrigation water scarcity Segura River Basin farmers’ perceptions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/7/929 |
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