The expansion of the Marbella desalination plant has involved an investment of 8 million euros and will help meet the water needs of both the Costa del Sol and the province. On Tuesday 8th, the president of the 'Junta de Andalucía' (Andalusian Regional Government), Juanma Moreno, inaugurated the project, which was completed in just over 16 months and increases the plant’s capacity by 20 hm³ per year.

 

Moreno stated that "water policies are an absolute priority for the Andalusian Government, as they should be for all public administrations, especially for the Spanish Government", noting that this desalination plant is not owned by the Regional Government, but is in fact a State infrastructure project of general interest. "It was built in the late 1990s with a production capacity of 20 hm³ of desalinated water per year, but for years it was only able to produce 6 hm³, three times below its capacity", added the regional president, who also remarked that "once again,The Andalusian Government has once again had to come to the rescue and tackle a fundamental project that was not within our remit". The works have involved the modernisation of all stages of the desalination plant, enabling an increase in the production of desalinated water as well as an improvement in its quality.

 

Moreno also highlighted that this is a dynamic and important area of the Costa del Sol, which triples its population in summer and is home to major agri-food companies. Until recently, the area had been suffering from a severe drought. He explained that this desalination plant is now capable of producing up to 20 hm³ of water per year, which accounts for between 15% and 20% of the Costa del Sol's water needs or, in other words, guarantees a quarter of the water supply required in such a dynamic area. If necessary, it would also allow water to be transferred from the Costa del Sol to Málaga, and from Málaga to La Axarquía, as the systems are interconnected.

Investment by the 'Junta'

The event began with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, followed by a tour of the facilities and a tasting of the desalinated water. The official inauguration was attended by, among others, the Regional Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco; the Regional Minister of Economy, Finance and European Funds, Carolina España, and the mayoresses of several Costa del Sol municipalities, including the mayoress of Mijas, Ana Mata (PP). The mayoress of Mijas stressed that "today is an important day for the peace of mind of all of us living in this part of Andalusia. After all the drought decrees we have been subjected to in recent times due to the lack of water infrastructure, we finally have a desalination plant with a capacity of 20 cubic hectometres, fully developed and operational". "This project has received both financial support and a firm commitment from the Junta de Andalucía. Although the plant is owned by the Spanish Government, it has been the regional authorities who have shown real concern and taken action in response to the emergency we’ve faced over these past months”, she added.

 

Reasonable consumption

The Andalusian Government and local authorities continue to remind the public that, despite recent rainfall, there is no room for complacency, especially in a region like ours, which is highly vulnerable to climate change and drought. They are therefore urging the responsible and efficient use of water resources. The mayoress of Mijas recalled that just a year ago, drought was one of the area’s main concerns, with fears over the ability to ensure water supply to the population, particularly during the summer, when demand can triple. “Today, that concern has eased thanks to the rainfall, but also to the bringing into operation of the expanded infrastructure", said Mata, adding that “we must recognise that water is a scarce resource, and we all have a responsibility to take care of it, both public authorities and citizens”. “This is positive news”, she concluded, “because we continue to work to ensure that the water shortages we experienced in recent months are not repeated”.

 

Water improvements

During his address to the media following the visit, the President of Andalusia explained that this project is not an isolated measure but rather part of a comprehensive and thorough plan to improve water infrastructure across Andalusia. He emphasised that between 2019 and the end of 2025, the Andalusian Government will have invested nearly 2 billion euros in water-related improvements of all kinds. Specifically, in the province of Málaga, 39 projects worth almost 150 million euros have already been completed, with a further seven projects valued at around 120 million euros currently underway.

 

At this point, he specified that 555 million euros will be allocated this year alone, double the budget dedicated to water in 2018. He also pointed out that a total of 102 water infrastructure projects are currently underway across the eight Andalusian provinces, representing an investment of just over 640 million euros. Since 2019, four drought decrees have been enacted, encompassing interventions worth more than 500 million euros, which have enabled an increase of 208 hm³ per year in available water resources. Moreno also referred to the Unconventional Water Resources Strategy, which is expected to be finalised before the end of the year. In the meantime, actions are already being taken to meet the strategy’s objectives, among them, increasing the production of desalinated water from the current 103 hm³ to 160 hm³ by 2027, thanks to projects such as this one and others planned in the Almanzora area of Almería.

 

Water Reuse

"In terms of reclaimed water, in just five years, we have quadrupled production, from 17 hm³ per year in 2019 to the current 70, and by 2027 we aim to reach 180 hm³, which would make us the leading region in reclaimed water", said the President of Andalucía. He stressed that his government is more committed to water than ever before, making it a top priority in a region that is particularly vulnerable to climate change and drought. He also referred to several water security projects in the province of Málaga, such as the renovation of sewage collectors in Fuengirola, the construction of new collectors in San Pedro de Alcántara, and, regarding the future desalination plant in La Axarquía, under the responsibility of the national government, the promotion of the establishment of the Central Board of Water Users of the Eastern Costa del Sol–Axarquía.

 

Water treatment plant

The president of the Junta highlighted that, at the end of 2024, a 39 million euros tender was launched for the expansion of the Río Verde Drinking Water Treatment Plant in Marbella. The submitted bids, around ten in total, are currently being reviewed, and he noted that the contract for the works is expected to be signed by the end of the year. Regarding tertiary treatments, he clarified that approximately 65 million euros has been invested in completed or ongoing projects aimed at improving and optimising water resources for irrigators in the province. “With all of this, it is clear that there has been an unprecedented commitment to equipping Málaga, and all of Andalusia, with the best possible water infrastructure”, he concluded.

 

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