Water solution for Costa Blanca towns

DROUGHT threatened water supplies are to be safeguarded by finally making full use of the Javea desalinisation plant.

Five Marina Alta municipalities will join forces to assure their water supply, regardless of politics.

Mayors and councillors from Javea, Benissa, Benitachell, Calpe and Teulada recently met in Teulada for a Marina Alta “water summit.”

Javea’s often-criticised desalinisation plant, which cost €24 million and began production in 2002, will play a key role.  It has never worked to full capacity and could now ensure that the area has water and subterranean springs are not over-exploited as the drought continues. 

The plant can produce 28,000 cubic metres of water a day, pointed out Josep Lluis Henarejos, chief executive officer of Amjasa, Javea’s municipal water board.

Technicians will meet to study connecting the five towns, he disclosed.  Teulada and Benitachell, already linked to Javea, would buy up to 3,000 cubic metres of treated water a day.  Taking the water to Calpe and Benissa promises to be more complicated as this will require a pipeline.

Teulada’s mayor Antoni Joan Bertomeu declared that it was technically possible for the towns to share their water.

Javea’s mayor Jose Chulvi agreed.  “But we have not only discussed one-off solutions for the current period of drought,” he added.  “The desalinisation plant will also help to optimise resources and keep the springs flowing.”