Gecko Towers
It’s “Liquid Gold”, it’s the “New Oil” and in some regions it’s already rarer than hen’s teeth. We watch the weather forecasts to see if the trusty reservoirs, that have traditionally supplied much of Marbella’s water, are being filled by rain showers. They aren’t.
One undeniable fact about Climate Change is that over the foreseeable future, water, its supply, conservation and use will be a guiding social priority that will demand careful management. The UN has predicted that water shortages in various arid regions of the world will result in Civil unrest.
While it may be less of a focus for those countries who have abundant rainfall, with over 340 days of sunshine annually, the use of water in the Marbella area is already a critical concern for all.
For many years we have driven past, on the Istán Road heading away from Nueva Andalucia, what looks like a water treatment centre servicing, perhaps, a sewerage facility. It’s not. It’s a desalination plant, called “the Desaladora”, that was originally commissioned some years ago under the aegis of the one time – ehem…”colourful” Mayor of Marbella, Jesus Gil y Gil. It is now owned by the Spanish government.
Did anyone notice that our featured image seems to show the end of the rainbow landing in the same location as the Desaladora?
Put simply a desalination plant (in this case situated 2.5km from the sea and its intake at the mouth of the Rio Verde) takes in abundant salt water from the sea and converts it through its processes to water that is permitted for human consumption and associated industrial uses.
Amazingly, with the efforts of the Andalusian ministry of agriculture, the Desaladora, is currently producing 6 cubic hectometres annually. It now supplies 50% of the occidental Costa del Sol’s (from Torremolinos to Manilva) drinking water. This 50% allows the regional government the ability to reduce overall local demand by 20 per cent throughout Andalucía.
Through a recently commenced renovation and maintenance plan, undertaken by local water supply company, Acosol, and funded by the regional government to the tune of 3m Euros, by Spring 2024 it is expected that the Desaladora will double its output to 12 cubic hectometres per annum. From the Summer 2024 forwards, the regional government plans to add a further 8 cubic hectometres to its annual capacity through a combination of updating the facility and adding further supporting plants to drive supply.
I challenge any local resident to be able to tell if their tap water is of desalinated origin – I’ve tried and cannot tell. There are currently 250,000 residents across Malaga province who are affected by water restrictions and while nobody is fool-hardy enough to claim that the problem has been completely solved, the Marbella region is grasping the most complex situation and delivering results. For me and our property buying clients, this brings a huge comfort that the local and regional authorities are future-proofing the water demands of Marbella’s growing number of residents.
Should you be interested in discussing the legal process involved in buying a property in the Marbella region, we would be delighted to assist you. Our multi-disciplinary team of bi-lingual, highly experienced and wholly independent Abogados (Spanish Lawyers) and Asesores Fiscales (Tax Accountants) are ready to help you.
We are not estate agents, but we know some hard-working and reputable ones, if needed.
Please call me, Mark FR Wilkins, during usual business hours on +34 600 343 917 or, if you prefer, or e-mail me at mark@biznagapartners.com
You may also be interested to subscribe to my interactive FaceBook Group “Costa del Sol – The Best Place to Live in Europe” – please click this link – Costa del Sol – The Best Place To Live In Europe
Please note that our posts are for general interest. There is no substitute for proper legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances as provided by a qualified Abogado who is experienced in the application of the Spanish Law.
Nothing contained in this article should be seen or taken as the writer or the publisher providing legal, tax or financial advice.
All details have been reasonably fact-checked and all efforts have been taken to ensure that facts are accurate as at the date of publication.
© Mark FR Wilkins 2024. All rights reserved.
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