Por Redaccion 
The Mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, has emphasized «the commitment and willingness» of the Andalusian Government to ensure water supply on the Costa del Sol through the expansion and improvement works of the desalination plant, which triples its production from 6 to 20 cubic hectometers per year. The Mayor attended the official inauguration ceremony today, following the completion of the works, alongside the regional president, Juan Manuel Moreno, and highlighted the «investment effort» of the Andalusian Government in water-related projects in Marbella. She specified that the figures reach almost 50 million euros between this completed project and the Drinking Water Treatment Plant (ETAP) of Río Verde, which will double its capacity from 173,000 to 400,000 cubic meters daily, as well as improvements to the La Concepción dam.
«A significant intervention has been completed, which was a necessity for this area and has been carried out in two phases,» stated the Mayor, recalling that «a year ago we were going through one of the toughest drought periods, with restrictions and difficulties, so the completion of this project is great news.» She emphasized, «The most important aspect of this project is to have the vision to ensure water supply and provide sufficient confidence to both residents and visitors, something that has been achieved thanks to political will,» she highlighted at an event attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Fishing, Water, and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco; the Minister of Economy, Finance, and European Funds, Carolina España; the President of the Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol, Manuel Cardeña, and the Acosol Councilor, Matilde Mancha, among other authorities.
The regional President, on the other hand, stated that the desalination plant works have involved an investment of 8 million euros that will help meet the water needs of Malaga and its province. He also pointed out that the plant «is not owned by the Junta, but rather is a project of general interest of the State.» «It was built in the late 90s with a desalinated water production capacity of 20 cubic hectometers per year, but for years, it was only able to produce 6 cubic hectometers, three times below its capacity,» he added. He highlighted that this area of the Costa del Sol, which triples its population in summer with significant agri-food companies and, until recently, was in a serious drought situation. «Once again, the Andalusian Government had to step in and tackle a fundamental project that was not within our jurisdiction,» he stated.
At this point, he explained that this desalination plant «is now capable of desalinating up to 20 hm3 per year, which represents between 15 and 20% of the water needs of the Costa del Sol, or, in other words, ensures a quarter of the necessary resources of such a dynamic area and, if necessary, would allow for the transfer of resources from the Costa del Sol to Malaga and from Malaga to Axarquía, as the systems are connected.» The Andalusian President specified that this project «is not an isolated action but is part of a comprehensive and exhaustive planning strategy for water in Andalusia.» He emphasized that from 2019 to the end of 2025, the Andalusian Government will have mobilized nearly 2 billion euros for various water improvements, with thirty-nine projects already completed in the province of Malaga totaling almost 150 million euros, along with seven ongoing projects worth around 120 million. He further noted that this year alone, 555 million euros will be allocated, doubling the budget allocated to water in 2018.
Moreover, he mentioned that «in reclaimed water, in just five years, we have quadrupled production, going from 17 hm3 annually in 2019 to the current 70, and by 2027, we aim to reach 180 hm3, positioning us as a leading region in reclaimed water.» He also referred to some of the projects for water security in the province of Malaga, such as the renovation of the sewerage collectors in Fuengirola, the new collectors in San Pedro de Alcántara, and, regarding the future desalination plant in Axarquía, which falls under State jurisdiction, the promotion of the establishment of the Central Board of Users of the Eastern Costa del Sol-Axarquía. The regional President highlighted that at the end of 2024, the expansion of the Drinking Water Treatment Plant of Río Verde in Marbella was tendered for 39 million euros, and the offers presented are currently under review, with approximately ten, anticipating the signing of the construction contract by the end of the year.