Comprehensive renovation of the Orihuela Costa wastewater treatment plant completed
The Valencian Regional Government has completed the comprehensive renovation of the Orihuela Costa wastewater treatment plant, a crucial project that has required an investment of €6.6 million.
This significant project not only seeks to substantially improve the efficiency of the entire sanitation system, but also strengthens the interconnection with neighbouring municipalities in the area.
The work, managed and executed by the Public Wastewater Treatment Authority (EPSAR), is part of an ambitious €97 million investment plan that the Regional Government is allocating to the development and improvement of water infrastructure throughout the Vega Baja region.
To see the scope of the work carried out, the second vice-president and minister for the environment, Vicente Martínez Mus, paid an official visit to the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). He was accompanied by the mayor of Orihuela, Pepe Vegara, and the main technical managers of Infrastructure and EPSAR.
The technical intervention has been extensive and has brought about significant improvements. Among these, the expansion of treatment capacity stands out, which can now process 12,000 to 16,000 m³ of water per day. In addition, essential equipment was completely renovated, a new laminated tank was built, and new connection chambers were installed. Finally, all the outdoor facilities were improved, including vital interconnections with the sanitation networks of Torrevieja and Pilar de la Horadada, ensuring more robust and collaborative water management.
Will this be the definitive solution to prevent faecal contamination from affecting the beaches?
On 23 July 2024, the Beaches Department of Orihuela Town Council (Alicante) ordered the closure of Cala Mosca and La Glea beaches due to contamination problems detected by the Regional Ministry of the Environment and Water.
This closure of beaches in the middle of the summer season came after the results of water quality controls, which indicated ‘contamination from waste’ at La Glea beach and a ‘spill in the dry area’ at Cala Mosca.