The Drinking Water Treatment Plant (ETAP) and the Wastewater Treatment Plant (EDAR) are key infrastructures operating in a territory with structural water stress. Their daily work is fundamental to ensure that water reaches homes in optimal sanitary conditions and that, once used, it returns to the environment without causing harm.
The Marina Baixa, one of the Valencian regions with the highest water stress, experiences a demand for water heavily influenced by seasonality, with consumption peaks during the summer months. In this context, the ETAP not only ensures supply but also guarantees that the water is suitable for human consumption, complying with current regulations. The plant, which has been expanded and updated several times, most recently in 2010 with an investment exceeding 9 million euros, can treat water from various sources, such as the Guadalest and Amadorio reservoirs, and the Canal Bajo del Algar.
The ETAP adapts its treatment processes in real-time to maintain required sanitary standards, even after intense rainfall that increases water turbidity. This commitment to quality is crucial for Benidorm, which receives millions of visitors annually and has a significant hotel industry requiring a reliable and consistently high-quality supply.
“"Our responsibility does not end with water being available; it ends when that water reaches the tap in perfect condition, and we guarantee this regardless of its origin or what happened before entering the plant."
Once used, water goes to Benidorm's EDAR for purification. This plant treats urban wastewater to return it to the natural environment without compromising ecological balance. The EDAR operates with a circularity approach, where water is considered a recoverable resource. Currently, 35% of the water reaching the treatment plant is reused, primarily for agricultural irrigation. Furthermore, Benidorm is developing a Regenerated Water Master Plan for urban uses, aiming to utilize up to an additional 2 Hm³.
“"A treatment plant consumes a significant amount of energy, and that is something we cannot ignore. That is why we work to ensure that the facility itself generates part of that energy from treatment by-products. The goal is clear: for the plant to become increasingly self-sufficient and for its environmental footprint to be as small as possible."
This integrated cycle, managed by Veolia, contributes to the environmental sustainability of the region and supports the economic and tourist development of Benidorm, ensuring an essential quality service for people and the territory.
