The principal irrigation channels in the province of Lleida are undergoing an institutional renewal process that coincides with a period of water stress. The Canal d’Urgell has set 25 October as the date on which its governing board will submit the election call to the general assembly, with the aim of holding the vote in December 2026. Meanwhile, the Canal de Aragón y Catalunya, established in 1942, faces an electoral window between late 2026 and early 2027. This turnover of leadership is occurring amid uncertainty generated by the draft of the new Ebro Hydrological Plan (PHE) and institutional pressure to modernise infrastructure.

The conflict is not merely political, but concerns the management model itself. Irrigators are debating whether to maintain their organisational autonomy or submit to the financing and technical directives imposed by the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ebro River Basin Authority (CHE). For the citizens of Lleida, this election will define the future of irrigated agriculture, the economic engine of the region, in a scenario where the water resource is perceived as limited.

Electoral calendar and leadership

The electoral schedules of the province’s principal irrigation bodies coincide with a critical juncture for the agricultural sector. At the Canal d’Urgell, the timeline is set: the governing board will put a motion to call elections to a vote on 25 October. Should the general assembly approve the proposal, the polls are scheduled for December 2026. The incumbent president, Amadeu Ros, has confirmed his intention to seek re-election. Ros leads an institution that has been the site of internal conflict in recent years, particularly regarding the modernisation of its infrastructure.

The situation at the Canal de Aragón y Catalunya is less defined. This canal, which has managed irrigation as a central syndicate since 1942, is entering a phase of partial renewal of its governing bodies. Three of the six board seats in the upper zone and three of the five in the lower zone are up for election, with terms of office lasting six years. The key uncertainty lies in the future of José Luis Pérez, who has presided over the canal since 1991. Pérez maintains an ambiguous public stance on his intentions. “I am at the disposal of the irrigators, but I have not made any decision,” the current president stated. If Pérez decides not to stand, it would mark the fourth presidential era in the canal’s history, following the tenures of Antonio Bernadó (1942-1974) and Blas Mola (1974-1991).

Modernisation and financing

The election of the new governing bodies comes amid a technical and financial dispute that extends well beyond the confines of the headquarters. The Ebro Hydrographic Confederation (CHE) has positioned the modernisation of irrigation as a prerequisite for carrying out other key measures, such as the harmonisation of the Pallaresa reservoir. This institutional strategy ties the acquisition of new water infrastructure to the acceptance of a specific management and funding model.

The Generalitat de Catalunya backs this modernisation, arguing for the need to optimise water use in the face of chronic drought. However, irrigators perceive this imposition as a threat to their autonomy. The crux of the dispute lies in the funding model for the new facilities. While the authorities promote a system that integrates community and private costs under a logic of technical efficiency, the irrigation unions defend their traditional management model, based on the private ownership of infrastructure and the assumption of costs by direct users.

This clash of models has polarised the grassroots membership of the canals. In the Canal d’Urgell, the Manifest Gran Urgell collective, which led the opposition during the votes on modernisation, has announced that it will field its own candidate for the upcoming elections. The emergence of alternative candidacies reflects the discontent of a section of users who believe that technical and financial decisions are being made without sufficient consensus among the owners of irrigated land. The election is not merely a renewal of office-holders, but a referendum on the model of water management in the province.

Impact of the Ebro Basin Hydrological Plan

The new Ebro Basin Hydrological Plan is the external factor most heavily conditioning the internal agenda of the irrigation canals. According to technical reports and institutional statements gathered in the sector press, the plan proposes a potential reduction in water concessions. This cut would directly affect users’ irrigation capacity, forcing a restructuring of water-use priorities. In this context, infrastructure modernisation is not merely a technical option but a strategic necessity to maximise the yield of every available litre of water.

The Ebro Basin Water Authority (CHE) has linked the approval of new infrastructure, such as the harmonisation of the Pallaresa, to the prior execution of modernisation plans. This conditionality has generated friction between irrigators and the authorities. Irrigation unions argue that the required investments are excessive and that the proposed financing model is unsustainable for many users. The authorities, for their part, insist that modernisation is the only way to guarantee supply in a scenario of water scarcity.

For the citizens of Lleida, this dispute has direct consequences. The security of water supply for irrigation is vital to the local economy. Inefficient management or a prolonged institutional conflict could jeopardise the viability of thousands of agricultural holdings. The election of the new governing bodies will therefore be a test of the irrigators’ ability to reach a consensus that allows them to negotiate from a strong position with the central and regional governments.

Institutional stability and civil society

The Canal de Aragón y Catalunya is an institution whose historical trajectory profoundly shapes its present circumstances. Established in 1942, it has weathered the political and economic crises that have marked Spain’s history. The tenure of José Luis Pérez, who has headed the canal since 1991, has been pivotal in ensuring its stability. His potential departure raises questions about the continuity of the institutional policies that have enabled the canal to adapt to regulatory changes over recent decades.

The canal’s recent history is characterised by a succession of presidents who have navigated periods of considerable complexity. Antonio Bernadó, the inaugural president, led the institution from its incorporation until 1974. He was succeeded by Blas Mola, who served until 1991. Since then, Pérez has been the visible face of the irrigation community in the region. Should Pérez not seek re-election, a fourth presidential term would mark a precedent in the organisation’s recent history. While the irrigators value the accumulated experience, they also recognise the need to renew leadership to address the new challenges posed by climate change and state-level water regulation.

Institutional stability within the canal system is a key factor in providing legal certainty for the agricultural sector. Investors and producers require assurance regarding the rules governing irrigation. A smooth institutional transition is a shared benefit for the entire community of Lleida, given the significant weight of irrigated agriculture in the provincial GDP. The management of these bodies, which are private legal entities performing functions of general interest, demands a robustness achievable only through a solid social base and consensual leadership.

Polarisation over modernisation has given rise to groups advocating alternative positions. In the Canal d’Urgell, the Manifest Gran Urgell has emerged as a force opposing current management. This collective, which unites irrigators dissatisfied with the technical and financial decisions of the presidency, has announced that it will put forward a candidate in the upcoming elections. The emergence of such candidacies reflects internal fractures within the irrigation syndicates and the difficulty of reaching broad consensus.

In the Canal de Aragón y Catalunya, the situation is more contained, though not free from tensions. The possible departure of José Luis Pérez has sparked internal debate over the institution’s future. Some sectors argue for continuity to maintain stability, while others advocate for renewal to adapt the canal to new challenges. Transparency in the electoral process and clarity in the candidates’ proposals will be key to resolving these tensions.

Next steps

The electoral calendar is drawing near. On 25 October, the Canal d’Urgell’s board of directors will put the call for elections to a vote. The general assembly will then decide whether to approve the date of the polls, currently scheduled for December 2026. In the Canal de Aragón y Catalunya, the electoral window, spanning from late 2026 to early 2027, will depend on the institution’s internal decisions and José Luis Pérez’s position.

Candidates standing for election must set out their proposals on infrastructure modernisation, financing, and relations with public authorities. Clarity in these proposals will be essential to enable irrigators to vote with full knowledge of the issues. The selection of the new governing bodies will be a pivotal moment for the future of irrigation in Lleida. The channels’ ability to manage water scarcity and guarantee supply will be a challenge demanding leadership, consensus, and responsible stewardship of the resource. Uncertainty over the Ebro Basin Hydrological Plan, coupled with the pressure to modernise, frames the context of these elections. Irrigators must decide what management model they want for their channels and how they wish to position themselves vis-à-vis the authorities. The community of Lleida expects these elections to be conducted in an atmosphere of respect and transparency, and that the new governing bodies possess both the capacity and the will to secure the future of irrigation in the province. Water management is a shared responsibility, but the irrigation channels remain the principal actors in defending the interests of irrigators and the local economy.