Hydraulic resources as within a regional framework

Abstract

The papers introduction argues that there are many ways of coming at the task of describing, reading and making a diagnosis of both the actual state and general trends of the spanish regional framework as to its bearing on water resources. For its simplicity the paper comes down in favour of a spatially grounded sectorial description that would encompass the major explicative factors for territorial demands on water. The paper next sizes up the spatial offer for the same resource. It is the author's opinion that the above methodology throws up the certain conclusion that though any siting of population centres. economic activity and comparative agricultural advantage would, in the main, indicate the choice of southern and mediterranean Spain such a choice would come up against a limiting factor in the water resources of these areas that would act as an in-built break on any such development. Furthermore, the paper also underlines that the northern regions of the country, despite their water surplus do not offer the necessary financing conditions for either the exploiting of this surplus as such or even its incorporation as within the general economic set up. The territorial analysis offered by the article represents a synthesis upon part of those territorial analysis studies being undertaken by the General Secretariat for Territorial Planning.