Rio Tormes Horcajada (La) Pm1

Spain River 2 - Good

Horcajada is a bathing area on the Río Tormes river in Ávila province, Castilla y León, Spain. The swimming spot is located near the village of Encinares at an altitude of 963 meters. The river has a single channel with central bars dividing it into multiple channels, composed of pebbles and rocks of various sizes. The area is well-conserved with native woodland, shrubs, and herbaceous vegetation. Trout, pike, barbel, and carp inhabit the river, along with various bird species.

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Water

Río Tormes (Tormes River), a continental river from the Duero basin. The bathing area extends from the confluence with the Caballeruelo stream to the Santa Teresa reservoir. The river bed contains sand, pebbles, and rocks. Mean annual precipitation is 785.65 mm. Environmental flow rate is 2.15 m³/s. Mean flow is 16.56 m³/s. Four-year return period flow is 1,400 m³/s. Mean monthly precipitation is 65.47 mm, with December as the wettest month and August as the driest.

Location

The bathing area is situated in the municipality of La Horcajada in Ávila province. Access is via the AV-662 road heading towards El Barco de Ávila from La Horcajada. At approximately kilometer 6.2, enter the village of Encinares and take the last street towards the river, then proceed for just over one kilometer along a path to reach the bathing zone. No parking is available.

Facilities

A bar or restaurant is available. No parking, lifeguard stations, informational signs, restrooms, showers, swimming pools, domestic animal access, recreational areas, fountains, or trash bins are provided. Waste collection is available.

Season

June 15 to September 15

Water Quality

Water quality classification was insufficient for 2016, 2017, and 2018. Monitoring data from 2017–2018 campaigns showed intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli concentrations. 2019 monitoring results are available. Health risk from fecal contamination episodes occurs at water flows below 0.17 m³/s with intestinal enterococci concentrations exceeding 1,000 UFC/100 ml.

Risks

Fecal microbial contamination from multiple point sources including the El Barco de Ávila wastewater treatment plant (9,625 population equivalents, 7,162 meters distance), several smaller treatment plants, and diffuse sources from livestock (1,483 cattle, 3,598 sheep, 21 pigs, 28 horses) and agricultural runoff. Risks include accidental or illegal discharges, dead animals, organic waste, sediment remobilization, and abnormally reduced river flow.