Summary

An analysis is made of the relationship between economic development and water sustainability in Campo de Dalías, in southeastern Spain. What used to be a poor, deserted region based on traditional agriculture has become one of the most prosperous regions in Spain. Economic development has been based on highly productive greenhouse agriculture, but this has resulted in the overexploitation of the aquifer that supplies water to different users in the region. Contradictions are considered between economic development and water sustainability in the area, as well as the plans and policies that have been put in place to improve the status of the aquifer but that have had limited success so far.