For experts the question is whether we are in uncharted territory

For hours, the state of the Fresnillo dam was subject of rumors, hoaxes and concern. The reservoir, extremely close to the urban area of ​​Grazalema, was being monitored by the UME and preventive evictions had been carried out in the homes near the Gaidóvar riverbank. Finally, the mayor had to come out to deny that the rip of the dam was a scenario that was on the table.

But the day was not over. 229 kilometers from there, around twelve at night, the Civil Guard began the complete eviction of Dúdara town in Granada at the foot of the Quéntar dam. The swamp It was at 101.46% of its capacity and I had to start pumping out water at full speed. A few kilometers from there, the Genil destroyed the Fabriquilla bridge and part of the old electrical installations of Hazallanas

Other neighbors in the area, too They were relocated due to the rise of the river Aguas Blancas and, in Poniente Granada, hundreds of people slept in sports centers before the overflow del Genil, Colomera, Cubillas and the problems around the Frailes and Cacín rivers. In Córdoba, Navallana has been forced to unload and, as a consequence, the Guadalquivir channel receives more pressure. Back in Cádiz, the Bornos reservoir too is approaching its maximum capacity and, according to the local pressthe dam has dawned with two backhoes in case the floodgates had to be opened even more.

That is to say, the lamination capacity of the Andalusian containment system is reaching its limit. The UME is taking control of entire municipalities and there are more than twenty roads blocked in several southern provinces. And the worst is not that. The worst thing is that it is going to continue raining.

An overflowing community

At this time, 14 rivers are under red warning today and another 31 are under orange warning. Rivers such as the Guadalete, the Genil, the Guadiaro and the Guadalhorce They are not just responding to today’s rain.but to the inability of the basin to drain what has accumulated in the last 48 hours.

The best example is called Huétor Tájar (in Granada). There the Genil River – the largest tributary of the Guadalquivir – completely overflowed and the chaos has been so enormous that The army has had to take control of the entire area. Above all, because this occurred before the discharges from the headwaters of the river (still contained by the Canales reservoir) reached the area.

But the key data is that of Grazalema. Although the official figures will obscure the record (because they are measured by hydrological days), the truth is that that corner of Cádiz has received more than 600 liters per square meter in 24 hours. Today, in addition, there are more than 100. And that is key because every dam (every river engineering work) is made with one key piece of information: the return to 500 years. That is, the risk of flooding at 50, 100 and 500 years.

What if what is happening in Grazalema is not something specific?

What if climate change is updating the chances that extreme events of this type will happen much more often? We tend to have a stereotypical view of global warming, but these are the things where it really makes a real difference: in the ability to put our infrastructures in check more criticism.

In this sense, when the worst of this crisis is over, when the rain and floods give us a break, we will have to understand all this as a great stress test for our water system. And more importantly, we will have to act accordingly.

Image | Dream Flower

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