Por Ismael Buendia 
El alcalde de Estepona, José María García Urbano, ha presentado en un encuentro de líderes europeos su innovador modelo sostenible para combatir la sequía mediante la desalación de agua de mar. Estas instalaciones contarán con un bajo coste energético gracias al uso de placas fotovoltaicas. La exposición tuvo lugar en la Cumbre de Líderes y reunión del Comité Político del Consejo de Municipios y Regiones de Europa (CMRE), donde García Urbano participa como representante de la Federación Española de Municipios y Provincias (FEMP) y como vicepresidente del CMRE.
Durante la primera jornada de este encuentro en Oslo, se discutió sobre la gestión sostenible de los recursos y cómo los gobiernos locales y regionales pueden abordar la escasez de recursos mientras promueven la sostenibilidad ambiental y social a largo plazo.
García Urbano defendió el enfoque de Estepona para la generación de recursos hídricos autosuficientes para enfrentar la sequía, destacando la construcción de una desaladora modular que se adaptará a las necesidades. El proyecto, con una inversión de cerca de 20 millones de euros, podrá producir 15 millones de litros de agua al día, suficiente para abastecer a la población local.
El alcalde detalló el modelo sostenible que utiliza tecnología avanzada para tratar la salmuera de manera eficiente, evitando problemas ambientales. Además, destacó que en una zona como la Costa del Sol, con abundante luz solar, las plantas fotovoltaicas permiten generar la energía necesaria para la desalación de agua, reduciendo significativamente los costes energéticos. Previously, the energy cost was very high, which increased the final price of water; however, with these photovoltaic plants, in areas like ours, we overcome one of the major problems that desalination posed»
The Mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, has defended his sustainable model for combating drought through the generation of water resources from seawater desalination in a meeting of European leaders. These facilities will also have a low energy cost as they will operate with photovoltaic panels. He presented this at the Summit of Leaders and meeting of the Political Committee of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CMRE), where the councilor participates as a representative of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) and as vice president of the CMRE itself.
The first day of this meeting, held in Oslo, focused on sustainable resource management, exploring how local and regional governments can address resource scarcity while promoting long-term environmental and social sustainability.
In his intervention, García Urbano defended the model that Estepona has embraced for generating water resources to face drought stages autonomously. He explained that Estepona’s commitment lies in desalination, and they are currently working on the construction of a modular desalination plant that can be modified according to needs. This initiative is currently awaiting authorizations to acquire the land and begin assembly.
The project, with an investment of around 20 million euros, will be able to generate 15 million liters per day. «We are talking about an amount equivalent to the consumption of a population like ours.» García Urbano detailed the sustainable model of water resource generation using a technology that has helped overcome traditional problems caused by brine, which used to be deposited near the coast, causing serious problems for fauna and flora. Now, there is industrial utilization and with propulsion tubes, at 2-3 kilometers, the salt returns to the sea.
Regarding the energy cost that desalination of seawater has entailed so far, the Mayor of Estepona explained that in an area like the Costa del Sol, «where we have approximately 330 days of sun a year, with the new photovoltaic plants, we have more than enough capacity to generate sufficient electricity. Previously, the energy cost was very high, which increased the final price of water; however, with these photovoltaic plants, in areas like ours, we overcome one of the major problems that desalination posed.»
FUENTE