Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Raise your glass to the production of drinking-water.
Credit Ayuntamiento de Marbella.
The Mayor of Marbella, Ángeles Muñoz, joined Andalusian President Juan Manuel Moreno to inaugurate the newly expanded and upgraded desalination plant in Marbella, a critical step in guaranteeing water supply for the Costa del Sol.
The facility now triples its previous output, increasing from 6 to 20 hectometres of desalinated water annually, thanks to an €8 million investment by the Andalusian government.
Muñoz called the project a “vital necessity” for the region, particularly after last year’s severe drought brought restrictions and challenges. “This is a major achievement that ensures water supply for everyone, reflecting strong political commitment,” she said at the ceremony, attended by regional officials including Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development Minister Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, Economy Minister Carolina España, and Acosol’s Matilde Mancha.
The Andalusian government’s investment in Marbella’s water infrastructure totals nearly €50 million, encompassing not only the desalination plant but also upgrades to the Río Verde Drinking Water Treatment Plant (ETAP), which will double its capacity from 173,000 to 400,000 cubic metres daily, and improvements to the La Concepción dam.
President Moreno emphasised the plant’s role in meeting Málaga province’s water needs, saying that the facility, originally built in the late 1990s with a 20-hectometre capacity, had been operating at just a third of its potential. He said that the Andalusian Government stepped in because this facility is state-owned, but it was a crucial need. The upgraded plant can now supply 15-20 per cent of the Costa del Sol’s water needs, with the potential to transfer resources to Malaga and the Axarquía region due to interconnected systems.
Moreno framed the project as part of a broader €2 billion water infrastructure plan across Andalucía from 2019 to 2025, with €150 million already invested in 39 projects in Malaga province and another €120 million in seven ongoing initiatives. This year alone, €555 million—double the 2018 water budget—will be allocated. He also highlighted a fourfold increase in reclaimed water production, from 17 to 70 hectometres annually since 2019, with a goal of 180 hectometres by 2027, positioning Andalucía as a leader in water regeneration.
Additional projects include sanitation upgrades in Fuengirola, new collectors in San Pedro de Alcántara, and support for a planned desalination plant in Axarquía. The €39 million expansion of the Río Verde ETAP, with bids currently under review, is expected to begin construction by year’s end.
The re-vamped desalination plants are a lifeline to the Costa del Sol. It is a dynamic area where population triples over the summer and supports the major agrofood industry as well as tourism.
