Transfer

The diversion of the waters for the Transfer occurs at the Bolarque Reservoir, at the point where the Tagus and its tributary Guadiela meet, regulated by the hyper-reservoirs of Entrepeñas and Buendía.

This stretch constitutes the first example of modern reversible exploitation in Spain, in which, in addition to the primary function of raising the transfer water flow, a subsidiary function of pumped storage station for producing electricity to supply high-peak demands has been incorporated.

The intake at Bolarque is done by means of four suction pipes with a diameter of 3.50 m, which cross the reservoir and supply the water lifting station located at its foot. The closing and protection devices of the inlet pipes are located in the wet parameter of the dam and are worked from its crest. The power station, equipped with four reversible pump-turbines of 203 MW of combined power capacity, pumps the water up to the top of the Sierra de Altomira through two metallic pipes of variable diameter of between 3.15 m and 3.45 m, covering a different level of 245 metres, and with a length of 1,025 metres.

The intake at Bolarque is done by means of four suction pipes with a diameter of 3.50 m, which cross the reservoir and supply the water lifting station located at its foot. The closing and protection devices of the inlet pipes are located in the wet parameter of the dam and are worked from its crest. The power station, equipped with four reversible pump-turbines of 203 MW of combined power capacity, pumps the water up to the top of the Sierra de Altomira through two metallic pipes of variable diameter of between 3.15 m and 3.45 m, covering a different level of 245 metres, and with a length of 1,025 metres

In La Bujeda reservoir a pipe begins that covers the distance of 93 km to the Alarcón reservoir, by means of alternating stretches of canals, aqueducts and tunnels.

As for the aqueducts, we must highlight those of the rivers Ransares and Ciguela, which, with lengths of 2,850 m and 6,200 m, respectively, the foundations of which are on difficult terrain and that are supported by pillars of up to 50 m in height, are true masterpieces of their kind. Also, of the twelve tunnels to be found in this section, that of Villarejo which is 5,020 m long (intersection of the Guadiana-Júcar watershed) deserves special mention, for the difficulties involved in its boring.

Section III, 106 km in length, receives its supply from the Alarcón reservoir, through El Picazo water drop tunnel, of which the company Hidroeléctrica Española is the concession holder. The joint use of this duct, as long as the volumes transferred allow it to remain so, means the postponement of the investment required for the construction of an own tunnel, the layout of which would be very parallel to that of El Picazo.

An important aqueduct, called Santa Quiteria, over half a kilometre long, supported by 15 pillars of up to 30 m in height, crosses the transfer canal, called Canal del Picazo at the head.

Section IV, without any doubt, is the Aqueduct masterpiece. Its function is that of spanning the Júcar-Segura watershed, crossing, by means of a tunnel 31,927 m long, the Sierra de Hellín, on the southern edge of La Mancha (province of Albacete).

The tunnel has been bored at depths of between 200 and 300 m, in a massif, which is essentially Jurassic, of a complex and difficult geological nature, with groundwater flows that are very important from a constructive point of view.