There was a Plenary Meeting of the Almuñécar Town Council yesterday to discuss the diminishing water table, which unless replenished will let in salt water.

The Partido Andalucista (Benavides) proposed using the surplus water from a supply that comes via a seabed pipeline from Río de Miel to recharge the water table during the winter and spring by pumping it directly into the ground.

Furthermore it was also proposed that recycled water from the EDAR (sewage-treatment plant) be used in this fashion, as well, or indirectly by releasing it along the riverbed.

Sr. Benavides said, “everybody agrees yet we have noticed a lack of determination; it’s not just a case of voting in favour of a motion; you’ve got to sit down with the authorities together, the same as you would if it were a natural catastrophe situation, because this summer we could lose up to 2,000 hectares of cropland.”

He added, “The water table takes between three and four years to recuperate but even if you do plant new trees, you need at least another 10 years.” He was referring to how long it would take for new trees, planted to replace those lost during a drought, to reach full production.

It was one of those rare occasions when all parties acted in unison and the motion was unanimously approved.

There was one more motion which was also unanimously agreed which was to organise a demonstration during the first fortnight of March in support of the plan put forward; i.e., to approach all the relevant authorities to obtain permission to refill the water table in the above-mentioned fashion.

(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)