Asturias recently experienced its most intense rainfall in 24 years in Avilés, a phenomenon that illustrates how climate change is already affecting the region. This was one of the highlights of the event organized by Facsa and La Nueva España, where they presented their second Facsa Study on the impact of extreme weather events on water resources.
The meeting, held at the La Nueva España Club, brought together institutional and technical representatives to analyze how to anticipate scenarios of drought, floods and extreme events that are becoming increasingly common. The Director General of Water of the Principality, Vanesa Mateo, was in charge of opening the day by putting into context the recent situation of the region, marked by episodes of torrential rains such as those experienced in Avilés.
Anticipation to protect water
During the presentation, Jorge Manuel Morales, the company's Business Development Director, emphasized that extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity, and noted that much of the country's water infrastructure was designed for a climate that no longer exists. Morales stressed that adaptation requires strengthening planning, modernizing infrastructure, improving early warning systems, and fostering cooperation between government agencies and operators.
The study also includes the main lines of action to increase water resilience, from incorporating climate risk to technological innovation or raising public awareness.
Asturias faces a more demanding scenario
Following the presentation, Luis Basiero, director of the Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment Area at Facsa, participated in a panel discussion with Bárbara Monte, president of the Cantabrian Hydrographic Confederation; Manuel Gutiérrez, manager of CADASA; and Vidal Gago, manager of the Gijón Municipal Water Company. Basiero emphasized that Asturias is already making progress in predictive models, risk matrices, and alternatives such as the use of reclaimed water, all key to anticipating a more erratic climate.
Institutional representatives agreed that prevention, sustained investment, and anticipatory planning will be essential to reducing the impacts of torrential rains, increasingly severe droughts, and more intense heat waves.
