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Intelligent water management on the Costa Blanca

From Dénia to Benidorm: How the Costa Blanca organises water cycles, desalination and reuse for a sustainable future.

From Dénia to Benidorm: How the Costa Blanca organises water cycles, desalination and reuse for a sustainable future.

Water is no longer a given on the Costa Blanca. Between Dénia and Villajoyosa, a quiet but fundamental change has taken place in recent years – from traditional use to systematic water management. Local authorities, farmers and engineers are working together to use every drop more efficiently.

Marina Baixa is regarded throughout Europe as an example of a functioning circular system. For decades, the Consorcio de Aguas de la Marina Baixa has been combining tourism, agriculture and municipal supply. Treated wastewater from Benidorm is transferred to farmers after state-of-the-art purification, who then use it to irrigate citrus and almond plantations.
According to regional water authorities, a significant proportion of the water now flows back into the cycle – individual studies cite figures of around one third. Reported network losses are around five per cent or less, making them among the lowest in Europe.

The Marina Alta region is about to undergo another wave of modernisation. Dénia and Xàbia are working with the state infrastructure company ACUAMED to push ahead with new desalination projects, which are to be implemented in the coming years. In Xàbia, the existing plant is being transferred to municipal ownership – a step towards greater control and security of supply. At the same time, pipe networks are being renovated and storage reservoirs expanded to better bridge dry periods.
Water also plays a key role in the future viability of agriculture. More and more farms are turning to drip and sensor irrigation,

which precisely controls moisture and nutrients. This is supported by PAC funding programmes and regional initiatives that promote the use of water-saving technologies. Private rainwater retention systems are also becoming increasingly popular – not because of regulations, but out of conviction.

Towns and municipalities are also continuing to invest. Benidorm is working on a master plan for the use of treated water for cleaning and irrigation and is testing underground storage solutions. Altea and Calpe are investing in the reuse of so-called „green wastewater“ – treated water that is used to maintain public green spaces. The Generalitat Valenciana is pursuing an ambitious goal: to increase the proportion of reused water to almost 45 per cent by 2030.

Recent years have shown that drought is no longer an exceptional circumstance, but part of reality. Attitudes have changed accordingly: water is not just a resource, but a cultural technique. Between Marina Alta and Marina Baixa, an awareness is emerging that combines ecological balance and technological innovation – and shows what the future could look like in southern Europe.

▶ In the next article in this series
How sunshine and community spirit are generating new energy – and why the Costa Blanca has long since begun to become self-sufficient.