During the board meeting of Aguas Municipalizadas de Alicante, held on the morning of 15 March 2019, a number of topics were discussed, in particular:

Actions

Investment works that have been approved include the proposed project to expand the El Plá wastewater pumping station (WWPS). With a budget of €889,770.24, the main aim of this action is to prevent discharges into Playa del Cocó, by doubling the current pumping capacity, permitting simultaneous connection with the wastewater treatment plants of Monte Orgergia and Rincón de León. The expansion will also facilitate maintenance tasks to guarantee zero discharges during dry periods. In addition, a generator will also be installed, thereby preventing discharges due to electrical faults, and the current pumping chamber will be modified, to minimise blockages to the pumps.

Also approved is an investment of €1,671,663 for the main sewer system collector to remove wastewater from areas of dispersed settlement, in the section of Rambla del Rambuchar and Pepior. With the works planned to last 12 months, the key aims are to provide a sewer system for the area of dispersed settlement around La Cañada del Fenollar and facilitate the removal of wastewater from the new La Cañada primary school. Communications have been sent to homes neighbouring the new collector, offering connections to the sewer system at the same time as the works, financed according to each customer’s needs, and stressing that installing the connection while the main works are being carried out would optimise execution costs. So far 20 connections have already been contracted, with another 39 still pending. It is worth stressing that this action will use recycled materials (such as recycled shingle) to fill works ditches, with the recovery process outsourced to an authorised manager.

With regard to the basic sewer system renovation and replacement works, special emphasis was placed on renovation of the drinking water and sewer system networks, due to the change of basin for the Fernando Madroñal collector in Alicante. With a budget of €3,316,223.09 and a planned execution time of 22 months, the aim of this action is to increase water capacity, improve the drinking water network and improve the urban image of Calle Boyero.

Other aspects highlighted during the morning were related to efficiency. The board stressed the 13.4% increase in reuse of treated water in Alicante compared to the same period the previous year. This water has been used to irrigate fields and green areas and to hose down and fill sewer system cleaning trucks.

Customers

With regard to support schemes, a number of new ideas were highlighted, such as the ‘AMAEM Support Scheme Technical Report’ which will be issued by the City Council’s Social Services; the ‘Monthly Report on Aid from the Support Schemes’, which will be drawn up each month by AMAEM; and the creation of a Mixed Monitoring Committee, lasting one year and extendable by mutual agreement to up to four years. So far in 2019, 30 families have benefited from AMAEM support schemes, specifically its social fund, with a total of 641 subsidised bills.

2018 Management Report

This first board meeting of the year also spent time on the 2018 Management Report, placing special emphasis on certain aspects in relation to 2018, such as:

• Customer relations: 115,038 Online Office sessions and 87,445 digital bills issued, figures that highlight the boost given to digitalising processes.
• Social action: subsidised water bills for families in need to the value of €513,000; large family tariffs for 1,618 families, an increase of 16.3% over the previous year; the Aqualogía environmental education campaign for schools, which has reached 40,000 students since 2007; and visits to the Museo de Aguas de Alicante, exceeding 137,000 visitors since it opened its doors in 2009.
• Sustainable development: through related projects, such as the environmental volunteering scheme (emergency drinking water plant for the NGO GEA); through biodiversity (such as reforesting); through the circular economy (research into composting/sludge); through equality (EFR certification, 2nd Annual Report and the Equality Seal), among many more.
• Unique operations and projects: a total of 21,691 meters replaced; over 12,600 tests to guarantee water quality; over 350 control samples from the sewer system, with 49 industries alerted; and more than 1,245,000 m³ of water reused for urban uses.
• Wastewater treatment and thermal drying: treated water (27,942,222 m³); volume of sludge production (26,461 tonnes); and electricity generation (2,428,125 kWh).
• Management system: quality and environmental management with favourable internal and external audits.