Study Sites

AQUEDUCT Study Site – Catalonia (Spain)

The Catalonia study site represents a key Mediterranean region within the AQUEDUCT project, characterized by high water demand, intensive irrigated agriculture, and complex basin governance. The site provides an ideal context to test and implement integrated water accounting approaches under increasing water scarcity conditions.

Location & Hydrological Context

The AQUEDUCT project includes 7 sites, where accounting tools and methods will be designed, tested and implemented:

  • Country: Spain

  • Region: Catalonia

Hydrological systems:

  • Internal basins of Catalonia

  • Ebro River Basin, including the Segre Basin

The study area combines internal coastal basins with the large Ebro River Basin, allowing the analysis of upstream–downstream interactions at meso-scale catchment level.

Main Study Areas

The AQUEDUCT study sites in Catalonia include:

  • Segre Basin

  • Baix Ter Area

  • Tarragona–Valls Area

These areas were selected due to their strategic importance for irrigation, agricultural production, and regional water planning.

Exploring Regional Water Challenges

Basin Characteristics

  • Ebro River Basin total surface: 85,534 km²

  • Key tributary: Segre Basin

  • Scale: Meso-scale catchments suitable for integrated water accounting implementation

Exploring Regional Water Challenges

Key Water and Agricultural Challenges

  • High pressure from irrigated agriculture

  • Strong and spatially variable water demand

  • Limited water availability in several basins

  • Need for improved coordination between water management and agricultural policies

These challenges make Catalonia a representative Mediterranean case study for sustainable water allocation and planning.

Water Use and Demand

The study focuses on:

  • Sectoral water use in Catalonia

  • Current and projected water demand

  • Spatial distribution of irrigation systems

This analysis supports a better understanding of present pressures and future water management scenarios.

Data and References

The study relies on official regional datasets, including:
Estimació i prognosi de la demanda d’aigua a Catalunya. Bases tècniques — Catalan Water Agency (ACA), 2010

Study site IRTA

Additional data include irrigation maps and basin-level water-use information.

Role within the AQUEDUCT Project

Within AQUEDUCT, the Catalonia study site contributes to:

  • Testing integrated water accounting methodologies

  • Assessing water demand and allocation scenarios

  • Supporting policy-oriented water management tools

  • Demonstrating applicability in complex Mediterranean basins

ead Partner

IRTA – Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (Spain)