A fundamental objective of the URBASO project is to put into practice the methodology developed in the project to define the protection zones of surface water abstraction points used for supply in rural areas and which are subject to considerable forestry pressure; so the proposed methodology includes management criteria for the territory of the abstraction points. This methodology is being implemented in several places in the Urdaibai Reserve and nearby areas, where transformations in forest occupation (to remove plantations) are being carried out as a guarantee of improvement of the water resource in the abstraction point, in terms of quantity, quality and temporal availability.
Several municipalities in this territorial area (Busturia, Ea, Bakio, Ispaster, Sukarrieta, Markina-Xemein, Berriatua, Ondarroa, Ziortza-Bolibar …) have shown interest in the URBASO methodology and are proceeding to purchase forest plots in the water abstraction areas to transform their current use for resource protection purposes as a commitment from the adaptive management of the territory. This commitment also finds a solid regulatory basis in RD 3/2023 (Royal Decree), on the technical-sanitary criteria for drinking water quality, which establishes a novel approach based on the consideration of risk assessment and management in water abstraction points areas intended for the production of water for human consumption. Although the RD sets a first risk assessment horizon for early 2027, URBASO’s experience can help in the process, especially taking into account the window of opportunity that the revision of the Urdaibai Use and Management Master Plan (PRUG), scheduled for 2026, represents in the area of Urdaibai.
In fact, a practical case of application of the URBASO methodology has been given in the framework of the KLIMATEK URKLIMA project (IHOBE, Basque Government, 2023-2024) in which the different protection zones of all the abstraction points registered in the Urdaibai area have been delimited on a cadastral basis and by municipality. This information is available and is helpful for municipal planning within the framework of the climate change adaptation strategy.
