More water exchange, less water scarcity? Driving factors from conventional and reclaimed water swap between agricultural and urban-tourism activities in Alicante, Spain

ABSTRACT

Water-related hazards such as water scarcity may be mitigated by considering interbasin and intersectoral transfers of freshwater, and by promoting the use of non-conventional water resources. This paper deepens on key driving factors able to define the benefits and barriers of a water exchange among agricultural and urban-tourism activities as a mechanism to reduce water scarcity risk in the Marina Baja county, in Alicante (Spain). Thematic analysis through semi-structured interviews with the Marina Baja Water Consortium and the Canal Bajo del Algar irrigators’ community has been conducted based on their role in promoting integrated management of water resources. Results highlighted how water management, water quality, and water charging are the three main issues to be considered when promoting water exchange between agricultural and urban-tourist activities. Learnings could be used to customize interventions at a regional scale when promoting water exchange between confronted water uses in water scarcity regions.

KEYWORDS:

• Water scarcity
• water exchange
• reclaimed water
• agriculture
• tourism
• Alicante

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad [Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral research fellowship (FJCI-2015-24346)]; the national competitive project PLUVIRESMED (CSO2015-65182-C2-2P); and the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte Predoctoral research fellowship (FPU15/01144).