Benidorm cleans the urban stretch of the ravines before the arrival of autumn to prevent the effects of possible cold drops

Benidorm City Council, through the Department of Water Cycle and the concessionaire Hidraqua, is carrying out a cleaning of the urban sections of the municipal ravines. The objective of these works is to "minimise the effects that possible torrential rains or cold snaps would have on the city with the arrival of autumn," said Councillor José Ramón González de Zárate.

To learn more about the current state of the ravines, both in the urban sections and those under the jurisdiction of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ), a meeting was held this morning at the Benidorm Smart Office with technicians from the City Council, the Water Cycle concessionaire, Hidraqua, the Air Unit, and the Rural Unit of the Local Police. The meeting was attended by the mayor, Toni Pérez, as well as the Councillors for Water Cycle and Citizen Security, José Ramón González de Zárate and Jesús Carrobles.

This preventive work is carried out throughout the year, "and especially before the arrival of autumn," with the inspection and cleaning of the urban sections of the ravines. These tasks consist of collecting solid waste accumulated within the channel and removing vegetation that could put at risk the drainage of the ravine waters, according to the report prepared by Hidraqua.

Throughout the year, the channels of the Barceló ravine (approximately 550 meters from Ciudad Real Avenue to Juan Fuster Zaragoza), the Derramador ravine (approximately 700 meters from Esperanto to Almirante Bernat de Sarrià), the Aigüera ravine (100 meters before the start of the closed channeling), Foietes and Xixo ravines (at the entrances to the closed channeling), Rajarell ravine (1,200 meters within the Adolfo Suárez Avenue industrial estate and a final section from Vicente Pérez Devesa to the sea), Moralet ravine (250 meters within the urban area), and Murtal ravine (approximately 100 meters from the end of the channeling and the start of Murtal Avenue) have been maintained.

The works include tunnels and stream outlets, as well as water outlets caused by torrential rains. “These tasks are carried out periodically and at each change of season: to remove any debris and anything that could cause a blockage at any point where the water flows,” stated González de Zárate, who also highlighted the work carried out by the concessionaire Actúa “in clearing and cleaning areas with dry reeds and inspecting other areas to leave everything in top condition.”

The head of the Water Cycle also noted that “while the City Council works in the ravines throughout the year, and especially during these dates, we have reiterated to the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ), as we do every year, that we are at their disposal should they require assistance with the work to be carried out in the non-urban areas of the ravines, which falls under their jurisdiction.” The councilor was referring to a letter he sent to the Technical Directorate of the City Council (CHJ), in which he warned that "given the possibility of any meteorological factors such as severe rains or cold spells in the coming months, we need you to consider clearing the ravines in our city to prevent further damage."

In the same letter, González de Zárate informed the Confederation that the City Council has already carried out the corresponding cleanup of the urban sections of the ravines, a task that is carried out "throughout the year" and is reinforced in August.

Along with the councilor's letter to the City Council, the report prepared by Hidraqua on the work carried out regarding the cleanup and maintenance of the urban sections of the ravines was also sent, as well as the report prepared by the Local Police, which includes a photographic report of the ravines and a summary of the on-site inspection carried out by the officers.

Furthermore, the work being carried out by the concessionaire Hidraqua also includes the cleaning and maintenance of 102 kilometres of pipelines and approximately 6,000 storm drains. "Our goal is to ensure that the city is prepared for the possible arrival of heavy rains and that the stormwater collection and drainage systems and networks function perfectly," the councillor stated.

González de Zárate stated that the ravines "are an issue that has always concerned us in Benidorm" and that thanks to the monitoring carried out, "today we have seen that they are in perfect condition through the Local Police drone." This unit has also inspected the outlying areas where "elements that could cause undesirable situations when draining water have been detected, so a letter has been sent today to the City Council with the reports from the Local Police and Hidraqua, specifying the points where they should act," the councillor explained.

Finally, González de Zárate emphasised that the Municipal Flood Plan is being followed throughout the municipality and expressed confidence that the City Council "will do its job and clean up its part of the work to ensure there are no problems." "However, we also inform the public that in the event of any alert, we have clearly marked all flood zones in the municipality, and that they should not park their vehicles or motorcycles there or drive through those areas," he concluded.