Apertura del plazo para proyectos del Plan Parra de Aguas Regeneradas.
The Council of Government has taken note of the opening of the deadline for the submission of eligible projects to be part of the Plan of Regenerated Waters for Irrigation in Andalusia (Plan Parra), which will conclude on November 30, 2025. In the Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) of July 16, 2025, the order is published detailing this planning, aimed at supporting Andalusian irrigators in their transition to more sustainable and efficient models in the use of natural resources.
With a planned budget of 165 million euros, the Plan Parra is part of the Rural Development Program (PDR) of Andalusia 2014-2022 related to investments in irrigation infrastructures and associated facilities and equipment that are included in actions declared of General Interest. Regarding the economic resources, these initiatives will have contributions from the European Union, through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (Feader); as well as from the Junta de Andalucía and the State.
Among the objectives pursued by the Junta de Andalucía with the Plan Parra, the increase in the guarantee of supply of water for human consumption stands out. The reuse of regenerated water in crop irrigation reduces the dependence of the agricultural sector on traditional resources (surface and groundwater), which thus have greater availability for other uses such as household water supply. In addition, this new source improves the profitability of agriculture by providing water rich in nutrients that allows producers to reduce spending on fertilizers.
The requirements for a community of water users to submit a project to be part of the Plan Parra include, for example, the obligation that the project has not started or received previous European funding. In addition, applicants must have the necessary authorizations to build the new infrastructures, have full availability of the necessary lands for their execution, and have water rights. Likewise, irrigators must commit to maintaining the infrastructures for at least five years and covering certain expenses related to the initiatives such as project drafting, safety and health coordination, or technical assistance to the work’s management, among other indirect costs.
The Plan Parra, which will consist of hydraulic works destined for the irrigation of crops with regenerated waters declared of General Interest of the Autonomous Community, is another action that the Junta de Andalucía has been implementing in recent years to address the water deficit in Andalusia. It is expected that in this territory, especially affected by climate change, low or highly concentrated levels of rainfall will persist in the future, combined with high water evaporation due to rising temperatures.
Furthermore, Andalusia is currently the first autonomous community in Spain in terms of irrigated land area, exceeding 1.1 million hectares, a figure that represents 29% of the national total. Therefore, the implementation of the actions included in the Plan Parra will represent an advance in sustainability and an improvement in profitability of a significant extension dedicated to food cultivation.
