HISTORY OF THE WATER

HISTORY OF THE WATER IN SANTA MARTA

"The water is the element and the beginning of all things". This one was the base of the theories the first philosopher of the History, the Greek Tales of Mileto. It is possible that the disposition of such vital resource was the reason for the foundation of the village in these high moorlands interspersed with numerous natural springs, wells and fountains. These have been the natural supplies of the population of Santa Marta until today. The Wells of the Virgin, the Chico, the Almadrá, the Ciruelo, etc. were a popular meeting point among the neighbours who went daily with pitchers to take the water necessary for consumption and the bathroom. It has been this way for centuries. In some cases, close to the wells, there used to be sinks to water the cattle and small gardens.

In the second half of the 20^th century, the running water will come to Santa Marta thanks to boreholes and the first pipe network and sewage network. At the beginning, there will be general supply points by means of fountains like this one that we see or the fountain located in the so-called "corner of the Tahona", whose small walls we keep as a souvenir. For a while lines were common to take water in the five fountains of running water like this one; the fountains were in the village. Little by little, they managed to have water in every corner of the village in the eighties; that is why these fountains ceased to be used.

Due to the increase of the consumption, the boreholes, whose water quality was excellent, were not sufficient; that is why it became necessary the construction of a reservoir that allowed to have more water supplies. In 1992 it was inaugurated the reservoir of Santa Marta (0,28 Hm³), located in the estate Valdehonduras. In addition, it has lead to the creation of a fishing preserve very valued by the fishermen of the region, since in its waters there is only the tench (Tinca tinca), an emblematic species of Estremadura.

But the construction of the reservoir did not solve the consumption needs. The water was not of good quality, the breakdowns were frequent (due to the obsolescence of the pipe network and the bad functioning of the treatment system) and in summer supply cuts were common. Little by little these problems were solved thanks to diverse interventions like the installation of a new treatment system in 2010. It was solved on 2^nd December 2015 thanks to the connection of the municipality to the supply system of the reservoir of Saint Lucia, in Villuercas. This fact has been one of the most important events in the recent history of the village since once and for all there was a basic supply of quality. For that, important works were carried out to connect the village with the general network that supplies to the whole region of Trujillo.

At present, there are two public fountains of running water in the village, one in the running tracks and the other one close to the commercial self-service. In addition, there is a public trough for the cattle on the way to the cemetery.