• The organisation monitors the rivers, reservoirs and groundwater in the region every five minutes in order to anticipate extreme phenomena

The Miño-Sil Hydrographic Confederation (CHMS) has intensified its surveillance system with the aim of monitoring in real time the state of the rivers, reservoirs and groundwater in Valdeorras, a region particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. With various control points distributed throughout the area, the organisation receives updated data every five minutes at its Basin Control Centre (CECU), which allows it to act immediately in the event of drought or flooding.

Carlos Ruiz del Portal, head of the CHMS Hydrological Planning Office, explains that each of these points establishes alert thresholds (yellow, orange and red) based on river levels, something that is crucial in Valdeorras due to the proximity of urban centres to the riverbeds. In this way, warnings can be issued to Civil Protection and prevention plans can be activated in order to minimise possible damage to the population and the environment.

Although the Miño-Sil basin has an average rainfall of 1,200 litres per square metre per year, drought episodes have become increasingly frequent in the 21st century, affecting the Valdeorras region. Ruiz del Portal emphasises that in 2022 average rainfall fell to 600-700 litres per square metre, half the usual amount, which demonstrates the impact of climate change on the region’s water resources.

The CHMS system also includes a forecasting model that, using data from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), can predict the behaviour of river flows up to six days in advance. This tool is essential both for water management in Valdeorras and for planning measures in case of extreme events.

In the short term, the water situation in the region remains normal. The reservoirs are at normal levels and rainfall is expected in the coming days, which will help to maintain the stability of the system. However, the CHMS is appealing to the people of Valdeorras to use water responsibly and efficiently, emphasising that, although it is a historically rainy region, the resource is not unlimited.