The Dénia City Council has approved in plenary session, with the favorable votes of PSPV y Compromís and against, of Party, Vox and Gent of Dénia, the general protocol of action that will be signed with the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, which defines the lines of coordination and cooperation for the development of the project, execution and operation of a desalination plant in Dénia.
The text of the agreement states that in view of the existing water deficit and the trend reflected in future scenarios, both included in the hydrological plan of the Júcar Hydrographic Demarcation, the Ministry for Ecological Transition is promoting a "fair water transition" that provides a solution to environmental problems such as the overexploitation of aquifers and the lack of guaranteed supplies. One of the fundamental actions is to incorporate all possible resources into the basin in order to replace groundwater in aquifers, which is increasingly scarce, and to guarantee supplies through water from alternative resources, such as desalinated water.
For its part, Dénia City Council is aware of the need to have the necessary infrastructure to provide drinking water supply services in Dénia, taking into account current needs and population growth forecasts, as well as the obligation of being a tourist destination in terms of having adequate infrastructure that maintains quality levels in the provision of services, mainly the drinking water supply service.
At the same time, taking into account the current situation of the aquifers in the Marina AltaThe city council considers it essential to carry out actions to increase the area's water resources and improve their management.
Opposition's refusal
In this regard, the Popular Party has issued a statement expressing its concern, questioning the need and economic viability of the installation. According to them, the initiative is based on reports from the water law from two decades ago and no updated study has been presented to justify its implementation.
From the PP They recall that, despite the effects of climate change on some aquifers, Dénia has not experienced restrictions in the water supply in the last 20 years, thanks to improvements in the network and control of leaks. In this regard, they highlight that, at the last Dénia Water Council, they requested a report supporting the need for the desalination plant, but they have not yet received a response.
The PP also highlights the possible economic impact that the desalination plant could have on citizens. They argue that the price of desalinated water is considerably higher than that of extracted water and raise doubts about the management of the facility and the financing of its construction and maintenance. In this regard, they question whether the water bill could be increased for the residents of Dénia.
Through the protocol approved yesterday, the Ministry for Ecological Transition declares its intention to entrust the state-owned company ACUAMED with the execution of the project, construction and operation of the "Marina Alta desalination project", which would be located in the municipality of Dénia and would have an adjoining photovoltaic park. The Dénia City Council will make the land available to the Ministry to build the infrastructure.
Grant to improve the efficiency of the water cycle
Water and its complete cycle were present in other points of the ordinary plenary session in January. On the one hand, it was approved, with the votes in favour of PSPV, Compromís and Gent de Dénia and the vote against of PP and Vox, to authorise the concessionaire of the complete water cycle in Dénia, Aqualia, to submit an application to the third call (2024) for aid for projects to improve the efficiency of the urban water cycle (PERTE Digitalisation of the water cycle), within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Government of Spain.
The actions that are intended to be carried out with these grants - and that Aqualia includes in its Alicante technological HUB project - are, among others, the preparation of emergency plans for drought, civil protection plans against floods, structural leak studies or the sensorisation of the supply network. The total estimated cost of these actions is 949.900,03 euros, of which 85,77% (814.751,12 euros) is expected to be subsidised with the grants called for and the rest with own funds.
Modification in the sewerage ordinance
The approval of the modification of the ordinance on sewage and discharges into the municipal network has also been approved, with the votes in favour of the governing team (PSPV, Compromís) and Gent de Dénia and the abstention of PP and Vox.
The changes consist mainly of adapting the ordinance to the new regulations, incorporating inclusive and non-sexist language into the wording and extending the obligation for homes to connect to the sewerage system, according to the Environment Councillor, Sandra Gertrúdix.
In the previous ordinance, this obligation fell on "all homes and activities that are located less than 100 metres from the public network." Now, with the amendment, built-up or buildable plots "where the point of their perimeter closest to the sewer network is located 100 metres or more away" are also required to connect.
Regarding the modification of the adaptation to non-sexist language in the Sewer Ordinance...we are hitting rock bottom hahaha
Please excuse any errors and duplication of paragraphs. Due to a temporary power outage in my home, part of the text was displaced and hidden.
Thank you.
Good morning, regarding the installation of a seawater desalination plant. If I remember correctly, there are quite a few installed in Spain.
and others to do so, in addition to others abandoned due to their high installation cost, treatment with chemical products, personnel, maintenance and above all excessive bureaucracy, in addition to slowness and the great environmental impact.
Special attention is paid to the treatment of waste, especially chemicals and brine, which represents 200/100 of the salinity when returned to the sea; very harmful to posidonia meadows, marine flora and fauna.
It is advisable to carry out a thorough study of its location, installation, permits, environmental impact, return of waste to the sea or its use or transformation and transport. In terms of employment, size of staff, such as technicians, specialists, etc. etc. in short, all of this weighed up and the possible alternatives studied that could be better used with greater advantages for its adaptation.
Another issue is the modification of the sewerage ordinance, which they say mainly consists of adapting the text to INCLUSIVE, NON-SEXIST LANGUAGE, etc. etc.
Could you please provide an example and explain how it enriches the text?
Thank you very much.
There is no doubt that there are places where these desalination plants have been practically a life-saving solution, but in cases of considerable precariousness. Of course, with a very high operating cost.
Other topic:
The modification of the sewerage ordinance. They say that among other considerations. It consists mainly of INCORPORATING INCLUSIVE, NON-SEXIST LANGUAGE IN THE WRITING, etc. according to the parties