San Javier unveils new flood protection measures
The town has opened its recently built north and south collectors, but insists that more work is needed on the ramblas to fully floodproof the municipality
The municipality of San Javier has just opened up its new storm drains, which are designed to help prevent flooding in built-up areas of the town and stop rainwater runoff going into the Mar Menor.
The President of the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia, Fernando López Miras, and the Mayor of San Javier, José Miguel Luengo, were present at the inauguration of the two new infrastructures – the north and south water collectors – which have involved an investment of 6.2 million euros, 80% financed by the ERDF fund and 20% by the regional government.
Mayor Luengo explained that the works have consisted of the construction of 4.2 kilometres of water collectors capable of handling 75,000 litres per second and a plasticated pool with a storage capacity of 33,250 cubic metres.
This pool, where the collectors converge, is located right next to the water treatment plant, where the collected rainwater will be pumped for treatment as irrigation water for agricultural use.
Ever since the very serious flooding that occurred in San Javier in 2016, protection measures have been foremost in the minds of legislators in the municipality.
“Since 2015, a total of 25 million euros have been invested in San Javier in hydraulic works, financed with funds from the Autonomous Community, own funds, and European ERDF funds,” explained the mayor, who also detailed that the separative collectors of rainwater circulate for 14 kilometres around the streets of the municipality.
The storm tank of the treatment plant has also been expanded, and now San Javier is able to store, treat and reuse up to 86,000 cubic metres of rainwater at a time.
At the same time, and with the “intention of making San Javier a municipality that is perfectly protected against floods” Luengo has requested that the government build nine dams in the Rambla de Cobatillas.
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Image: Ayuntamiento de San Javier
