Mayés reservoir

Mayés reservoir was planned and constructed with the objective of storing water received via Ojós impulsion and the right bank canal. The irrigation areas served by the reservoir are Zone V( Casa Alta & Campos del Rio), Mula district, Guadalentín Valley (Sangonera, Librilla, Alhama, Totana & Lorca) and Almería. In addition water is supplied to Alcantarilla, Lorca and Almería.

The reservoir was sited in a wide natural valley over the watercourse of Mayés wadi, a minor affluent of the Segura on the right bank. The reservoir is in the municipality of Ojós (Murcia).

The works consisted in the construction of a dam of loose materials with an impermeable core, curved convexly downstream with a maximum height of 32 metres.

At the left hand edge of the dam a superficial spillway was constructed. The right bank canal is connected to the reservoir up reservoir close to the spillway.

An outflow tower accessible via a pedestrian bridge is located at 12m upstream of the base of the dam housing the lower gates and the outflow works to the canal via a gallery containing two conducts which pass through the body of the dam.

The outflow to the canal is via a conduction of 2m in diameter located in the gallery later culminating with two valves with which the outflow is regulated.

A footbridge links the tower with the right margin of the dam.
 

The outflow conduction continues to terminate in an energy dissipating basin which also serves for the spillway of the dam.

The fundamental characteristics of Mayés reservoir are detailed below:

• Maximum level -Normal Reservoir(MEN) 276,34
• Maximum level -Extraordinary Reservoir(MEE) 276,90
• Minimum level of Exploitation 260,90
• Capacity of the reservoir (at MEN) 1,532,00 Hm³.
• Total capacity of the reservoir (at MEE) 1,632,00 Hm³.
• Useful capacity of the reservoir (at MEN) 1,467,00 Hm³.
• Surface area of the reservoir (at MEN) 16,67 Ha.
• Area of the associated basin 1.340,00 Ha.
• Average annual inflow via the Tagus-Segura inter-basin transfer 46,00 Hm³.