For centuries, Elche has perfected a complex water distribution system for irrigating its orchards. The main feature is the Acequia Mayor, from which multiple branches run through the municipal area like the veins of a living body.
A water distributor is a hydraulic structure that divides and distributes the flow of a main irrigation channel into several secondary channels, known as brazales. Thanks to this ingenious system, water is distributed evenly among the orchards, following a regulated schedule that reflects wisdom passed down from generation to generation.
A NETWORK WE CANNOT SEE, BUT NEED
Elche’s drinking water and sanitation network is the result of centuries of effort. At the beginning of the 20th century, Elche began modernising its water supply with a pipeline from La Alcoraya (a rural district of Alicante), managed by The Elche Waterworks C.º Ltd., which installed infrastructure and distributed the resource to key points.
In 1901, the first public fountain was inaugurated, although widespread supply did not arrive until the middle of the century with water from the Taibilla and the Villena wells, via the Elche canal. At the same time, streets were paved, sewers were built and, in 1980, the first treatment plant was constructed.
Currently, integrated management prioritises efficiency and sustainability, reusing treated water and adding desalination and water transfers.
THE NATURAL PULSE OF WATER
Before humans intervened, water was already shaping the landscape of Elche. The Vinalopó river, ravines and wetlands, such as El Hondo and Clot de Galvany, are part of a natural system that regulates the climate, supports biodiversity and retains water in times of scarcity.
These spaces not only have enormous ecological value, but are also closely linked to the city’s hydraulic history. They are the origins of many of today’s networks. Preserving them means protecting the liquid soul of our territory.
WATER ROUTES:
ELCHE WATER ROUTE: IRRIGATION CHANNELS AND MILLS
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING, DISCOVER MUCH MORE
On this route, we will follow the network of canals, the traditional irrigation channels, the authentic arteries of irrigation that still feed the Elche Palm Grove today. Along the way, you will learn about the structure, water distribution rules, and their essential role in the creation of the oasis agroecosystem that defines the city.
In addition, this route takes us past some of the old water mills that used the slopes of the Acequia Mayor to transform water into energy, and we will discover how these constructions were the driving force behind the local economy.
ACEQUIA MAYOR: WATER THAT SHAPES THE CITY
This map shows the route of the Acequia Mayor irrigation ditch and the Acequia de Marchena irrigation ditch, together with the various branches that branch off along the way. Since its Andalusian origins, the irrigation system has transformed the agricultural landscape of the Elche Palm Grove and the urban layout of Elche. Streets, paths and orchards have grown along the course of the water, adapting to its route. Each branch, each fork, tells a story of coexistence between nature and traditional engineering.
ROUTE OF THE ELCHE DAM
We invite you to discover the place where Elche’s hydraulic history began: the 17th-century reservoir. The dam, built in 1632, was the first arch dam in Europe since ancient Rome, but it suffered severe damage in 1793. The works and problems continued. A final serious incident occurred in 1995 when, as a result of another flood, the dam’s regulating gate burst and the reservoir emptied. After years of neglect, restoration work began in 2007, and the dam began retaining water again in March 2008.
This guided tour offers a comprehensive overview of Elche’s hydraulic engineering, combining history, nature and sustainability.
DIFFICULTY: medium.
ROUTE: linear (there and back along the same path).
APPROXIMATE DISTANCE: 7 km (one way, following the course of the Vinalopó river from the Molino del Real mill).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
– It is possible to shorten the route by starting at the car park at the Explanada del Pantano.
– There are no drinking fountains or toilets along the route.
– Some sections have little shade, so don’t forget your sunscreen, water, and appropriate clothing and footwear.