Case Study 1: Matarraña River Basin - Euwareness

nowadays that concessions are in perpetuity. Regarding population supply,
concessions were originally given for a period of 99 years. The 1953 Local Regime Act
reduced these terms to 50 years, even though the State administration continued to
give 99 years concessions along the fifties. Currently, those having a concession for
water supply in the Matarraña river basin perceive they have them in perpetuity. It has
to be taken into account that concessions at least date back from 1901 and that after
the coming into effect of the 29/1985 Water Act the maximum term is 75 years starting
from the date the concession is registered. So being registered would theoretically
have the incentive of granting for a new 75 period concession (but may be losing the
expectation of perpetuity). Apart from that, one must take into account that about 30%
water uses in the Matarraña river basin are illegal.
The 29/1985 Water Act establishes that all concessions must be registered in the
Water Register, that was created by virtue of this regulation. However, this is far from
being implemented. Prior to that, from the sixties on, there were some uses books
including some data on uses, and back to the XIXth century, some provinces used to
fill inscriptions books. The information registered, however, was uncompleted and
scarcely precise. Official data refer about 58 concessions included in the old inscription
books from 1901 to 1985. Among them, a few have been extinguished and most of
them are still operating. Among the latter, those having had any change (for instance,
change of the name of the concessionaire) after 1985, have been registered in the
Water Register. So have the new concessions given after 1985. However, the old
concessions not having had any change have not been registered. In total, only 12
concessions, which represent a minimal amount of the total water used in the river
basin, are currently registered. Clearly, the 1985 Water Act does not serve to
substantially modify this situation. The following table includes all concessions
registered by the CHE since 1985.
Water concessions registered by the CHE since 1985
Municipality Use Year Term Flow
(litres / sec)
Beceite
Valderrobres
Water force
Population supply
Irrigation (8 Ha)
Population supply
1993
1997
1989
1992
75 years
75 years
75 years
75 years
375 l/s
1.21 l/s
0.34 l/s
13.89 l/s
21