Por Redaccion 
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, has inaugurated the works to increase the capacity of the tail regulating tanks of the Odiel Siphon, declared of interest to the Community in 2020, with an investment of 19,980,103.59 euros.
During the inauguration ceremony, in which the Mayor of Huelva, Pilar Miranda, also participated, the minister emphasized that the Andalusian Government «keeps its promises» regarding one of the major hydraulic projects in Andalusia.
Adding to the two regulating tanks built in the late 1960s, with a combined capacity of 120,000 m3, an additional 80,000 m3 has now been added by constructing a new tank adjacent to the existing ones and interconnected with them, bringing the total capacity to 200,000m3. «This project will not only improve local supply but also strengthen a key infrastructure for the economic growth of the metropolitan area of Huelva,» stated the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development.
This project is also crucial for water storage in the province of Huelva, preventing possible water shortages in case of a breakdown of the Odiel Siphon, which would result in severe economic losses for the Industrial Zone, the irrigators of Palos and Moguer, the Port of Huelva, the population of the Condado de Huelva, and the southeastern coast of this province.
Covered with sports area
The minister also defended that within this project, the Andalusian Government made a significant commitment to the Huelva City Council to ensure full integration of the infrastructure into its urban and social environment. To achieve this, the new tank has been buried, allowing the continuity of the public park of Torrejón as a space for public use.
Regarding the structure of this third tank, an accessible cover has been developed and equipped with public sports facilities, which are handed over to the Huelva City Council and include a rugby field, a 7-a-side football field with artificial turf, multipurpose courts (for basketball, futsal, and volleyball), changing rooms, toilets, rest areas, and an access building.
«Facilities for the enjoyment of the people of Huelva, demonstrating the commitment of the Andalusian Government to a much-needed hydraulic infrastructure, respectful of the environment and designed for collective well-being,» said the minister.
Improvement works for the Huelva wastewater treatment plant
Regarding the improvement and adaptation works of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (EDAR) of Huelva, tendered by the Andalusian Government at the end of last year for over 43 million euros, an infrastructure that does not meet European standards, Fernández-Pacheco announced that there are significant offers on the table and that the project’s award resolution will be signed «in a short time.»
He defended the Government’s commitment to the province of Huelva in terms of water resources, with 28 supply and purification infrastructures completed in the province since 2019 worth over 117 million euros. Three are currently being executed worth over 25.6 million euros, including the replacement works of the urban wastewater transport collector from Cartaya to the La Antilla treatment plant in Lepe, costing over 4 million euros.
Additionally, works on the efficiency and supply guarantee improvement in high areas for the Sierra de Huelva (Phase 1) have been completed, costing 3.5 million euros; the wastewater treatment plant corresponding to the expansion of the La Antilla treatment plant, costing 23.1 million euros; or the joint collectors and treatment plant works for Nerva-Riotinto, costing 12.3 million euros, among other interventions.