Why (Not) Desalination? Exploring Driving Factors from Irrigation Communities¿ Perception in South-East Spain
| Autor: | Ana Arahuetes, Sandra Ricart, Rubén A. Villar-Navascués, Salvador Gil-Guirado, Antonio M. Rico-Amorós |
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| Přispěvatelé: | Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Análisis Geográfico Regional y Geografía Física, Universidad de Alicante. Instituto Interuniversitario de Geografía, Agua y Territorio, Clima y Ordenación del Territorio |
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Alicante
Irrigation lcsh:Hydraulic engineering Water scarcity Corruption media_common.quotation_subject Geography Planning and Development adaptation Aquatic Science perception Biochemistry Desalination Water–energy–food nexus desalination lcsh:Water supply for domestic and industrial purposes lcsh:TC1-978 Agricultural productivity Adaptation water–energy–food nexus Environmental planning Water Science and Technology media_common Driving factors Consumption (economics) lcsh:TD201-500 water scarcity irrigation communities Análisis Geográfico Regional Murcia Perception Business Water quality South-East Spain driving factors |
| Zdroj: | DIGITUM. Depósito Digital Institucional de la Universidad de Murcia instname Water, Vol 12, Iss 2408, p 2408 (2020) Water Volume 12 Issue 9 |
| Popis: | Desalination for sustaining agricultural production is conceived as an alternative water source in some Mediterranean countries faced with climatological and hydrological constraints. Although high costs are often cited as limiting factors, how farmers discern desalinated water has not been discussed in-depth in the literature. This paper aims to deepen how desalination is perceived by irrigators, what driving factors are affecting irrigation communities&rsquo decision-making processes, and what learnings can be drawn from their experiences regarding desalination acceptance or rejection. Eleven irrigation communities have been selected from Alicante and Murcia regions (South-East Spain), which account for more than 60,000 irrigators and 120,000 ha. Questionnaires were conducted between March and December 2019. Results highlighted the main advantages (water availability and supply security) and disadvantages (high price affecting profitable crop options, high-energy consumption, water quality standards, the production capacity of desalination plants, no seasonal variation in water production, and shortages due to technical problems) of using desalinated water. Additionally, through the analysis of regional and national press news, it can be concluded that socio-political aspects, such as corruption, cost overruns, and political disputes are also considered. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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