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The regional government has completed the rehabilitation of over one kilometre of sewerage pipes in the Cartagena coastal towns of Islas Menores, Mar de Cristal and Los Nietos. The works, which cost more than €236,000, are part of a wider plan to improve sewage infrastructure in areas around the Mar Menor.

 

According to the regional government, the aim is to prevent groundwater from infiltrating the sewerage system.

 

“Water with high conductivity from the water table was entering the system and compromising the treatment process,” explained José Sandoval, Director General of Water.

 

The repairs are expected to improve water quality at treatment plants and support its reuse for irrigation.

 

The technique used avoids the need to excavate streets by installing new piping inside the existing network. Cartagena councillor Diego Ortega described the method as essential in updating infrastructure that is, in some places, up to 40 years old.

 

Ortega added that stopping untreated water from reaching the Mar Menor remains a key priority.

 

This latest work forms part of a broader programme under the region’s Second Sanitation and Purification Plan. In the past year alone, nearly three kilometres of pipes have been renewed in Torre Pacheco, Fuente Álamo, La Unión and Cartagena.

 

In total, over 14 kilometres have been rehabilitated since the plan began, with €2.5 million invested across 20 separate projects jointly funded by the Region of Murcia government and the EU’s ERDF programme.

 

These latest upgrades come at the same time as residents of Los Nietos are protesting once again over a lack of funding in infrastructure and public facilities on the part of Cartagena City Council.

 

Image: CARM