With the aim of minimizing flood risks during autumn, Aguas de Elche has intensified the cleaning of the sewage and stormwater systems. Storm drains in areas identified as critical flood points in the municipality have been meticulously inspected, with corrective cleaning carried out to ensure their drainage capacity.
In addition to the 2,000 storm drains cleaned monthly, approximately 600 additional drains have been incorporated for preventive cleaning. The city has around 10,000 storm drains, which undergo maintenance and cleaning every six months.
The cleaning and maintenance of pumping stations in the urban center and in the districts of Matola, Valverde, Balsares, and Arenales del Sol have also been reinforced. Special attention has been paid to the stormwater stations at the railway underpasses on the road from Torrellano to Elche and the EL-20.
The storm tanks located in the Parque Empresarial in Torrellano, crucial for preventing floods in Torrellano and l’Altet, have been joined this year by the storm tank in Arenales del Sol. With these infrastructures, the storage capacity reaches 74,200 cubic meters.
The ELX OASIS project, subsidized by the Ministry for Ecological Transition, has been completed and will improve the response to discharges into urban public waterways during rain. 61 monitoring equipment units (limnimeters) have been installed to measure the volumes discharged into receptors in urban ravines, with an investment of 507,447 euros. Specifically, 7 units have been placed in the barranco de los Arcos, 34 in the Vinalopó River, 17 in the barranco de San Antón, and 3 in other receptors.
Additionally, 16 multiparametric probes have been installed to monitor water quality at the most representative discharge points. This digitalization is part of the Elche Anti-Flood Plan, strengthening the control of potential spills and providing real-time information on the operation of drinking water and sewage networks, improving prevention and protecting the natural environment.
