Water transplant, supply system that can avoid restrictions in the summer

It is an old and traditional practice, and in some regions of Spain, such as Sierra de Grass, It recovers to avoid the restrictions imposed on the use of water In the summer, which destroys crops and causes many problems for farmers to give their animals to drink. It is about “Water transplant” Using trenches or bathing that extends along the mountain slope and is rehabilitated, because most of them are abandoned.

However, nothing new, but the people of Quechua and Aymara were done more than a thousand years ago by building and managing Amunas, Cochas and Bofedales, among other systems. In Sierra Nevada, where she was doing from Andalusia, 240 kilometers of these trenches were prepared, but it is not the only place where the water supply system is trying to recover.

Indeed, in Andalusia, they were pioneers and more than 120 km of trenches had already interfered since 2014, with About 30 societies of irrigation from Granada, Eria, Cáces, Avila or Sigovia With the help of more than 3,500 volunteers.

CSIC’s investigations were also conducted, these systems are Really effective and valid dehydrationAY to face the effects of climate change. This system, and therefore, is to extract rain water and infiltrate it in the soil and restore it in other parts after a few months or even years.

The water sneaks this way In the trenches along the surface running journey In some areas known as Simas, Calaaros or Matas. The long period that is expected to be recovered again is due to the slow speed in which the groundwater rotates.

In addition, the current system allows the supply of drinking water to several groups of population and livestock, It also allows crops to irrigate And pastures during the most dry periods and also contribute to the preservation of countless ecosystems and an increase in biological diversity.

Although it is a very traditional technique, Studies conducted by the Geology and Mining Institute in SpainThey have shown The efficiency of this system, lack thereof and its flexibility. In fact, the water that sneaks into the groundwater layer in Sierra Nevada can double the amount infiltrated in other similar mountains.