Heavy rain linked to Storm Francis has caused a sharp rise in the Segura’s flow along its last 30 km through the Vega Baja, leading once again to large patches of foam on the water. The increase has been particularly notable at Los Huertos, near Las Norias, where the flow reached 28 m³/s, and in Rojales, where it rose to 29 m³/s. Normally, readings at these points sit below 2 m³/s.

The foam is associated with untreated wastewater entering the river system when heavy rain overwhelms municipal drainage and treatment facilities. Water companies attempt to prevent damage to infrastructure by diverting excess flow, which often ends up discharged at authorised outlet points. Farmers say this has become a routine problem and accuse councils of failing to invest in separate rainwater and wastewater networks.

The Segura River Authority has opened an investigation, as it does after each episode, but growers argue that the root causes are already well known. While intentional industrial dumping can also cause foaming, this is considered less common because it is easier to trace and penalise.

The latest discharges have coincided with the controlled emptying of the Santomera reservoir, which had collected 6 hm³ of stormwater over Christmas. Although this water is highly saline and can produce some foaming, irrigation bodies say salinity is not responsible for the foam currently visible in the river. The reservoir must be kept ready to absorb further floodwaters, and its contents are not suitable for irrigation until at least 9 January.