Segura (, ; ; , or ) is a medium-sized river in southeastern Spain. It has its source in the Sierra de Segura. Course The river begins at Santiago Pontones (province of Jaén), passes Calasparra, Cieza, Blanca, Murcia, Beniaján (Region of Murcia), , Orihuela, Rojales and flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Guardamar del Segura in the province of Alicante. Some of its tributaries are the Mundo (which starts near Riópar), the Alhárabe (which starts in Moratalla), the Mula and the Guadalentín. The alluvial plain is called the Vega del Segura and is a very productive agricultural region growing a wide variety of fruit, vegetables and flowers. The Vegas are divided into three areas: Alta, Media and Baja (upper, medium, and lower). Affluents The Segura's main tributaries or affluents are: Right bank: Zumeta River Taibilla, 2,95 m³/s River Alhárabe, 0,20 m³/s Río Benamor Río Argos, 0,50 m³/s Río Quípar, 0,79 m³/s River Mula, 5,10 m³/s River Pliego Rambla Salada River Guadalentín, also called Sangonera or Regueron, 1,35 m³/s Rambla Bosch Rambla Nogalte River Luchena River Turrilla Rambla Torrealvilla Left bank: River Madera River Tus, 0,15 m³/s River Mundo, 20,42 m³/s River Bogarra Rambla Judío Rambla Moro Rambla Tinajón Rambla Abanilla Recovery By the 1990s, the Segura had become one of the most polluted rivers in Europe, due to the canning industry and urban and agricultural residues originating in the densely populated area in the medium and lower areas of the basin. This fact combined with low or extreme low flows in the same areas –the agricultural use of water and summer drought could reduce the mean discharge to just around 2 to 3 m/s in Murcia city– made it more difficult to dilute pollutants. Public outcry peaked in 2001, with a demonstration gathering 40,000 people. A comprehensive action plan followed, the Segura River Project, developed by the Murcia Government's Regional Water Department, in partnership with the Segura River Authority (CHS) and town councils in the region, to restore the health of the Segura River and to supply reclaimed water to the booming agriculture industry. Between 2001 and 2010, 100 water treatment plants and 350 kilometres of wastewater collection systems were built. In addition, a wastewater reclamation levy was established to finance the operation, maintenance and monitoring of these systems, applying the principle "the polluter pays". By 2003 the quality of the Segura's water started improving. Since 2010, pollution has been