Rural land for sale in Spain is a very attractive investment that is of interest to more and more people in Spain. Normally, for an economical price, you have a place where you can build an agricultural facility, cultivate crops, raise livestock or even build a property in those places where it is allowed. However, these types of rural estates do not always have basic services. In such cases, it is necessary to apply for the necessary connections in order to have these goods on the property. Requesting water for rural land is generally an easy procedure, but it is advisable to know the details in order to avoid problems.
Getting this supply to the property is vital. Without this service, it will be impossible to have irrigation systems, running water for animals or to supply a possible property. It is therefore essential to find a way to provide this supply, either by connection to a public network or by exploiting the water resources that may be available on the farm itself in the form of springs, wells, streams or rivers that cross the land.
Rural land is land that is outside the limits of what is known as urban land. They are always located in rural areas and, in general, cannot be built on, with some exceptions. For example, it is possible to rehabilitate a ruined or deteriorated building on rural land; it is also possible to build warehouses and livestock or agricultural facilities, as well as certain buildings for rural tourism. Furthermore, in some Autonomous Communities, single-family properties may be built, provided that certain maximum measurements are respected.
In any of these cases, if there is no water supply, it is necessary to request water for the rural land in question. And this request must be made following specific steps to avoid making mistakes.
The first thing to know when requesting a connection to a water network from a rural property is that in Spain it is a public property, which means that it cannot be used without administrative authorisation. Furthermore, depending on the type of connection to be made, permission must be requested from the municipality or the hydrographic confederation responsible for the area. If the water is to be used for irrigation purposes, it may be necessary to apply to a local irrigation association.
If there is the possibility of connecting to a public water supply in the vicinity of the rural property, permission must be requested from the local council. It is possible that the municipality in question has a company in charge of distribution: if this is the case, this entity will be in charge of studying the connection and deciding whether to authorise it. Often, these companies make it a requirement that there is an agricultural activity on the farm requesting the service. If this does not exist, it is possible that they will not allow the connection.
It is also necessary to bear in mind that these municipal companies are not obliged to build the connection, as they are when the application is made for a farm on urban land. Therefore, once granted, the interested owner must build the connection. To do so, a construction company must be contracted to do it according to the technical regulations.
Often this work requires crossing public roads and other people's property. Permissions from the traffic authorities and from these other owners will then be required. Finally, if the farm is in a specially protected area, such as a National or Natural Park, permits from the managing bodies of these sites will also be required.
On the other hand, if the aim is to take advantage of surface or underground water from springs, watercourses or aquifers existing on the rural land, the circumstances are different. Even if it is on private land, it is still State property. Therefore, permission must be requested from the hydrographic confederation, which will study the case and decide whether to authorise the use or not. The hydrographic or basin confederations are public entities that administer the water resources of the different areas of the country. In Spain there are several: the Cantabrian, the Ebro, the Duero, the Tagus... These bodies ensure that water resources are conserved and not overexploited. Their approval is essential for water to be available.
Once the authorisation has been granted, a water intake will have to be built. If it is a surface spring, this can be done with a manhole that conducts the liquid through hoses. If it is a well, it will be necessary to install some kind of pumping system to extract it and transport it to where it is to be used. In any case, it is advisable to use companies that specialise in this type of work.
In Spain, a mostly dry country, it is a very valuable resource. This has meant that access to it is highly legislated and regulated. In fact, there are dozens of laws, rules and regulations to be taken into account. There are national ones, such as the Water Law, which regulates the public water domain; also important is the 1986 Regulation of the Public Water Domain, which develops part of this law, as well as decree 125/2007, of 2 February, which establishes the territorial scope of the river basin districts. In addition, there are regional and even municipal regulations. Other regulations, such as those governing National or Natural Parks, may also affect the connection of a network.
As can be seen, access to this supply on rural land can be very simple as long as one is aware of which legislation and which regulations apply in each case. Otherwise, it can become a mess. Still, one way or another, water can be ordered for rural land in almost all circumstances and enjoy this service without any problems.
Depending on the needs and usability, there are different types of water applications. The most common are:
It is important to note that each type of water application may be subject to specific regulations and standards depending on the location of the land and local and regional laws. In addition, obtaining the necessary permits and licences may vary depending on the type and quantity of water requested, as well as the availability of the water resource in the area.
It is essential to know the amount of water that the rural land needs on a fixed or temporary basis. This will determine both the type of source needed and its quality or quantity. In order to carry out this assessment, the following must be taken into account:
On rural land, the water sources available may vary depending on the geographical location and the specific conditions of the area. The most common are:
