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Date Published: 04/02/2026

WATCH! Dramatic footage shows vital water pipe bursting yet again in Orihuela

The Tajo-Segura Transfer in the south of Spain has sprung a major leak for the second time in months

You'd think after the recent downpours that water wouldn't be such a precious resource, but in Spain's drought-stricken south every drop still counts. That's why news that the Tajo-Segura Water Transfer pipe running through Orihuela has burst yet again has caused real alarm in the community.

One of the joints in the massive conduit that carries water to the La Pedrera reservoir gave way early this week, sending a huge cascade gushing through the metal structure under intense pressure. The Segura River Basin Authority managed to get the leak under control several hours later and the damaged pipe is now being repaired.

But not before the torrent of escaping water flooded the road and neighbouring terraces, which were already receiving a steady deluge throughout the morning.

These leaks happen because the structure contracts and expands when temperatures change suddenly. The Segura Hydrographic Confederation (CHS) maintains that the volume of water lost is negligible compared to the siphon's five-kilometre transport capacity, but it's still a frustrating waste in an area that can't afford to lose any water.

What makes this particularly concerning is that exactly the same thing happened at several different points along the siphon just last December.

Back then, the CHS announced it was taking immediate action to minimise losses from pressurised water leaking at the joints of the siphon, which sits between the Orihuela and Hurchillo mountain ranges.

The structure consists of two steel pipes, each 2.30 metres in diameter and 5.2 kilometres long, designed to carry Transfer waters across the Segura river valley as it passes through Orihuela on the way to the Pedrera reservoir.

Clearly those fixes didn't quite do the job.

Image: CHS

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