The Valencian Regional Ministry of Environment, Infrastructure, and Territory has announced a €1,5 million investment to renovate the underwater outfalls in various towns in the Valencian Community, including Xàbia. The investment is part of a plan to ensure the proper functioning and safety of these treatment systems that discharge treated water into the sea, in order to protect the environment and the quality of the receiving waters.
In the case of Xàbia, the mayor Rosa Cardona has confirmed that, in addition to repairing the current submarine outfall, a completely new one will be built, which will be located at a different point than the Arenal BeachThis new emissary will be located behind the Parador, in the Punta de l'Arenal area (Minister Creek), moving away from the beach and eliminating the risk of massive pollution on the coast.
"Clear solutions, not patches"
The mayor of Xàbia has highlighted the serious problems caused by the current outfall, especially after Storm Gloria in 2020, which broke it and caused the closure of Arenal beach during the high season in 2022 and 2023 due to pollution problems.
Cardona emphasized that this emissary, which dates back to 1986, "and the best thing is not to repair or patch the fault, but to change it. Therefore, two weeks after taking office, that's what I requested from the Regional Government."
The mayor stated that "Xàbia cannot afford the risk of the outfall breaking again. The current water analysis is optimal, and while all the permits for the new one are processed, the current one will be improved with the installation of diffusers at the pipe mouths to distribute the treated water more efficiently and reduce the risk of contamination. For this initiative, the Regional Ministry will allocate more than €500.000 to Xàbia and Dénia.
Tertiary treatment
The mayor also announced that the Regional Ministry is drafting a project to implement tertiary treatment at the Xàbia wastewater treatment plant, which will allow the treated water to be reused for garden irrigation and agricultural activities, improving the quality of the water available for these uses.
The emissary broke in 2020... It's 2025.
There's no blue flag in sight at Arenal de Javea. However, on the rocks at the southern end of Arenal, the "wipes" are clearly visible, reminding us that we're bathing in shit.