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San Javier has just completed a new €550,000 flood prevention project designed to help manage heavy rainfall and reduce flooding in one of the areas affected by torrential downpours.

 

Local and regional officials visited the newly finished works at Vereda del Vinco this week, where a new sustainable drainage system has already started helping rainwater filter naturally into the ground during storms.

 

Most of the time though, the area simply functions as a new green public space for residents.

 

The project includes a winding floodable pathway that acts as a drainage channel during heavy rain, helping to move excess water away while allowing it to soak naturally into the ground instead of overwhelming drains and streets.

 

Several infiltration ponds have also been created, which can double as play and recreation areas for families during dry weather.

 

Permeable paving, ramps and improved pedestrian access have also been added as part of the works, alongside a larger bridge structure designed to handle bigger volumes of water.

 

Regional Minister for Infrastructure Jorge García Montoro said that projects like this can help reduce the impact of storms in urban areas, but warned that they are not enough on their own.

 

“Green solutions help mitigate the impact of rainfall in urban areas, but they can in no way replace the major hydraulic infrastructure projects for flood control and flood protection,” he explained.

 

San Javier mayor José Miguel Luengo also stressed that larger flood prevention measures are still urgently needed upstream, particularly around the Cobatillas ravine, which has caused problems during episodes of intense rain.

 

The works were jointly funded by San Javier Town Hall and the regional government, with part of the financing also coming through European Union recovery funds.

 

For more local events, news and visiting information contact the tourist offices of San Javier (main contact number 661 572285) or go to the home page of San Javier Today.