Collection

Canal de Isabel II makes joint use of all available water sources in the region of the Community of Madrid. Specifically, we have both surface water and groundwater to provide the amount of water necessary for the supply of all Madrid residents.

More information

Surface water

The collection through surface waters is carried out by taking advantage of the contributions offered by the Lozoya, Jarama-Sorbe, Guadalix, Manzanares, Guadarrama-Aulencia and Alberche rivers, carried out through reservoirs and azudes.

Groundwater

The incorporation of groundwater into the supply system of the Community of Madrid allows us to have a greater volume of water with which to meet the needs in periods of drought, when the volumes stored in surface reservoirs decrease. The main exploited aquifers are: the carbonated Cretaceous aquifer and the detrital tertiary aquifer.

CRETACEOUS CARBONATE AQUIFER

This aquifer consists of a package of clays, conglomerate and plaster of tertiary age, below which are the carbonated rocks of the Cretaceous that constitute it. The recharge is produced by the infiltration of rainwater in the areas of limestone outcrops and streams, coming from the mountains, which circulate on this terrain.

TERTIARY DETRITAL AQUIFER

This aquifer is constituted by an alternation of sand, silt and clay sand. These materials, with reduced porosity, condition their hydraulic behavior, which is defined as aquitard. This aquifer is recharged by the interfluvios coming from the Jarama, Manzanares and Guadarrama rivers from the rainwater.

More information