€75.7M for irrigation in Eastern Mancha: what changes for farmers in Albacete and Cuenca

Key data

Farmers integrated in the JCRMO assume new management obligations as of June 20, 2026 over high-value public infrastructure. The Resolution of June 1, 2026 from the Júcar River Basin Authority publishes the management delegation agreement that formalizes this transfer, supported by article 125 of the Consolidated Water Law and article 11 of the Public Sector Legal Framework Law.

This is not a subsidy or direct aid to individual farmers: it is an assignment of operational responsibility to the irrigation community over infrastructure financed with public funds. Understanding the scope of this delegation is key to anticipating operating costs and maintenance obligations.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement formalizes a management delegation: the CHJ builds and finances the infrastructure (second phase of pump replacement), and once the works are completed, it delivers them to the JCRMO so that it maintains, conserves and operates them over time.

The construction projects involved correspond to the completion of the second phase of pump replacement in Eastern Mancha. The technical objective is twofold:

• Primary objective: replace 35 hm³ annually of groundwater extraction from the Eastern Mancha aquifer with surface water from section III of the Tajo-Segura Aqueduct, contributing to the good quantitative status of that water body.
• Secondary benefit: reduce the energy consumption associated with irrigation pumping systems.

Financing comes entirely from the Ecological Restoration and Resilience Fund, which means the works are publicly owned although their operational management falls to the irrigation community.

Economic and operational impact

The management delegation does not imply a direct disbursement by farmers for construction of the works, which are already financed with public funds. However, it does generate operational responsibilities and ongoing maintenance costs that the JCRMO must assume once the infrastructure is delivered.

The main vectors of economic and operational impact are:

• Maintenance and conservation costs: the JCRMO becomes responsible for maintaining infrastructure valued at more than €75.7M, which implies annual budget allocations for its conservation.
• Reduction in energy costs: the replacement of groundwater extraction pumping with surface water from the Tajo-Segura Aqueduct reduces electrical consumption of irrigation systems, with a positive impact on farmers' energy bills.
• Improved water availability: the 9,000 hectares affected in Albacete and Cuenca access a more stable and regulated water source, reducing aquifer dependence and risks associated with restrictions due to overexploitation.
• Environmental compliance: the reduction of 35 hm³ annually of groundwater extraction improves the quantitative status of the Eastern Mancha aquifer, which may result in less regulatory pressure on water use rights of farmers integrated in the JCRMO.

Who does it affect?

• Central Board of Irrigators of Eastern Mancha (JCRMO): is the entity that directly assumes the management delegation and, therefore, the obligations to maintain, conserve and operate the new hydraulic infrastructure.
• Farmers and agricultural operators integrated in the JCRMO with farms in the provinces of Albacete and Cuenca within the scope of the 9,000 hectares affected.
• Managers and directors of the JCRMO: must plan the technical and budgetary capacity to assume operation of the new infrastructure.
• Agricultural advisors and irrigation technicians providing services to operations in Eastern Mancha and who must update water management plans for their clients.

Practical example

An agricultural operation of 50 hectares of irrigated land in Albacete, integrated in the JCRMO and currently dependent on groundwater extraction pumping from the Eastern Mancha aquifer, will be affected as follows:

• Once the second phase works are completed, its irrigation system will be supplied with surface water from the section III of the Tajo-Segura Aqueduct instead of water extracted from the aquifer.
• The energy cost of pumping will be reduced, since surface water requires less extraction pressure than groundwater.
• The JCRMO, as the entity managing the infrastructure, will be responsible for its maintenance and conservation. This cost will likely be passed on to integrated farmers through community fees or assessments.
• The operation will benefit from greater legal certainty in water access, as pressure on the aquifer is reduced and the risk of restrictions due to overexploitation decreases.

What should farmers do now?

1. Verify integration in the JCRMO: confirm whether the operation is within the territorial scope and irrigation community affected by the agreement (Albacete and Cuenca, approximately 9,000 ha).
2. Contact the JCRMO: request information about the execution schedule for the second phase works and the expected date for delivery of infrastructure to the community.
3. Review the water management plan: update water use plans to incorporate supply from section III of the Tajo-Segura Aqueduct and reduce aquifer dependence.
4. Anticipate the impact on fees: ask the JCRMO how maintenance and conservation costs of the new infrastructure will be passed on to integrated farmers.
5. Evaluate energy savings: estimate the reduction in the electricity bill associated with reduced use of groundwater extraction pumping, to incorporate it into the operation's economic planning.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-13445