The Water Consortium reiterates to the CHJ the need for investment in the Marina Baixa

The Marina Baixa Water Consortium today urged the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ) to invest in the region to guarantee the water supply and the necessary infrastructure for the future. This demand was reiterated during the body's Extraordinary Meeting, held this morning in Benidorm, chaired by the city's mayor, Toni Pérez.

Jaime Berenguer, the Consortium's technical director, made this demand loudly during the presentation of the report on the supply situation in the region. To ensure these requests are addressed, the Consortium representatives requested a meeting with the Director General of Water "because it is clear that something is failing and there are regions that cannot guarantee their supply without investment." Therefore, Berenguer stated that it is "very important" to hold these meetings with the Ministry to provide solutions for this region." And not only that, but the meeting must also serve, according to Berenguer, "to make the new contributions a reality; we need a guarantee."

Diego Irles, representative of the CHJ in the General Assembly, wanted to make it clear that the river basin authority "is not an enemy of the Consortium" and that its priority is "to provide solutions by doing what we can and going as far as we can." On this point, he described the upcoming meeting with the Director General of Water as "positive" to be able to implement everything necessary."

In any case, the Consortium has once again stated that "it is clear that there are areas with more than 340 million euros in investments financed by Europe and the Ministry, while in Marina Baixa, if we want a desalination plant—referring to the future plant in Benidorm—we have to pay for it ourselves." Berenguer gave as an example that during this period of drought, "the Ministry should have drilled a new well, but we were told no."

Regarding the status report on the Marina Baixa, Jaime Berenguer stated that the situation "remains serious" despite the recent episodes of rain. However, surface reserves in the Guadalest and Amadorio reservoirs have increased, and aquifers such as Fuentes del Algar, Font de l'Arc, Beniardá and Polop have recovered. Regarding external contributions, if there is no rainfall this spring-summer, "another three cubic hectometers will have to be requested."

Another issue addressed in today's session was the status of the new desalination plant. The Consortium hopes that the bidding process for the project, valued at approximately €500,000, will begin this year. Berenguer reported that "the necessary legal and financial reports are about to be approved."

It has also been reported that an agreement is about to be signed with the City Council, which involves the free transfer of land to the Consortium, and another cooperation agreement for the financing and construction of the plant. The Regional Ministry will contribute 50% of the project, the Alicante Provincial Council 25%, and the Water Consortium the remaining 25%. The Consortium has also been sent the agreement for the free transfer by the Digital Transformation Project Company to the Consortium of the submarine outfall facilities, which were built when the construction of the Terra Mítica desalination plant was planned at the beginning of the century.

The Marina Baixa Water Consortium has also unanimously approved a credit modification worth €2,833,987.77 to undertake the emergency project for the new well, which was approved in December for €983,000, as well as the amounts for the tender for the Marina Baixa desalination plant project (€500,000). "These, and a modified €45,000, are the new amounts. The remainder is to pay for the increase in the supply of external flows, a 2023 agreement that must be paid now, and some works also approved in 2023 that were not completed. The money was transferred to the balance and must be paid now once completed," Berenguer specified.