Acosol Initiates Second Desalination Plant Design in Western Costa del Sol

Acosol is moving forward with plans for a second desalination plant in Western Costa del Sol, commissioning Ayesa for the preliminary design with a budget of €859,819. The project is expected to address water supply needs in the area between Torremolinos and Manilva, with a focus on developing a sustainable source to alleviate pressure on overexploited aquifers.

The design phase will take two years and encompass three stages: needs assessment (3 months), alternatives study (9 months), and preliminary design (1 year). Past efforts to establish a desalination facility in the region were unsuccessful.

The new plant is projected to meet demand until 2039, starting with an annual capacity of 10-12 million cubic metres. The ongoing 'water highway' project aims to enhance water exchange with Malaga, while the Gibralmedina reservoir project could provide an additional 15 million cubic metres annually, though it faces significant costs and bureaucratic hurdles.