The Guadiana grants Castilla-La Mancha the exploitation of La Cabezuela

The Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation, O.A. has entrusted Infraestructuras del Agua de Castilla-La Mancha with the operation and maintenance of the emergency works that guarantee the water supply dependent on the La Cabezuela reservoir, in the province of Ciudad Real. The agreement was signed on September 25, 2026, in Badajoz and is published in the Official State Gazette of this Saturday, October 24, 2026 (no. 264, Sec. III, pages 142718 to 142725, reference BOE-A-2026-22283).

The publication is ordered by the Resolution of October 13, 2026, of the Guadiana Hydrographic Confederation, O.A., issued in compliance with article 11.3.b) of Law 40/2015, of October 1, on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector. The agreement was signed by the president of the basin organization, Samuel Moraleda Ludeña, and the president of the entrusted entity and counselor for Sustainable Development of the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, Mercedes Gómez Rodríguez.

Works already accepted to secure the Campo de Montiel

The purpose of the entrustment is not the execution of the works, but their operation and conservation: the works of “Lot 1: Execution of the works” were already accepted on April 30, 2025, according to the report from the Confederation’s Technical Directorate dated May 26, 2025. Their purpose is to guarantee the water supply to the municipalities of the Campo de Montiel System from the Puerto de Vallehermoso reservoir.

The basin organization considers that direct operation by the Manchegan entity is “of interest for the correct operation of the system.” The entrustment is based on articles 124.4 and 128.2 of the recast text of the Water Law, approved by Royal Legislative Decree 1/2001, of July 20, and Law 33/2003, of November 3, on the Heritage of Public Administrations.

Until 2038 as the initial term and a maximum of 75 years

The fourth clause sets a maximum term of 75 years, in accordance with articles 125.3 and 134 of the Water Law and Law 9/2017, of November 8, on Public Sector Contracts. However, due to the interrelation with the action to improve the water supply to Campo de Montiel, the initial term extends until April 15, 2038.

This limit derives from the agreement signed on November 14, 2005, between Hidroguadiana, S.A. —currently Aguas de las Cuencas de España (ACUAES)— and the then Aguas de Castilla-La Mancha, which set 25 years from the start of operation, which occurred on April 15, 2013. The count begins from the delivery act of the work, which must be signed within ten days of its formal proposal.

Pumping in Vallehermoso and a photovoltaic well in Alhambra

Annex I details the facilities whose management is transferred, valued at 1,450,612.99 euros (VAT included):

• Action 1, pumping from the Puerto de Vallehermoso reservoir: two floating pumps and a third backup pump of 108 kW and 200 m³/h each, 589 meters of DN355 PVC-O piping, 630 meters of electrical conduit, and 706 meters of fiber optics. Amount: 1,094,008.81 euros.
• Action 2, well in the vicinity of the La Jarosa tank: 220-millimeter diameter borehole with a 30 kW pump, 50 meters of piping, and a photovoltaic installation of 105 panels on plot 34 of polygon 64 in the municipality of Alhambra (Ciudad Real). Amount: 356,604.18 euros.
• Auxiliary means: pneumatic boat with a length of 3.6 meters, flow meters connected to the Automatic Network Information System of the Guadiana, and SCADA programming for the Campo de Montiel drinking water treatment plant (ETAP).

Rates for city councils and reversion to the State

The entrusted entity may charge the beneficiary local entities fees for the use of the works, provided that the total amount does not exceed the annual maintenance and operation costs. The Water Use Rate is reduced to section c) of article 114.3 of the consolidated text of the Water Law, intended to amortize the outstanding investment quotas.

The assets remain public domain of the State and will revert to the Confederation if the entrustment is terminated, including all works and improvements made to the property. The Confederation retains jurisdiction over the public hydraulic domain and is liable for damages resulting from construction deficiencies.

The decision affects the water supply of several municipalities in Ciudad Real and consolidates the role of the regional entity in the management of the urban cycle: from now on, it comprehensively assumes the maintenance of a pumping and catchment system upon which the supply of Campo de Montiel depends, with an operational horizon that, in the first instance, extends to 2038.

Source: Official State Gazette (BOE), no. 264, October 24, 2026, Sec. III, pp. 142718-142725 (official reference: BOE-A-2026-22283).