Marina Baja: Geography, Climate, and Shared Water Management
Across the Marina Baja area, there are 18 municipalities, with seven located along the coast. The Marina Baja Water Consortium represents about 97% of the local population and covers roughly 41% of the area. The region spans 578.67 square kilometers and features a varied landscape: a rugged interior with the sierras Aitana, Puig Campana, Bernia, and Cabeçó d’Or, alongside a coastal plain that edges the Mediterranean.
Marina Baja sits within the Júcar Hydrographic Basin, one of nine management systems defined by the 1997 PHJ framework. The climate is semi-arid Mediterranean, with average annual temperatures ranging from about 14°C inland to around 19°C toward the coast. Rainfall patterns separate the basin into two distinct groups: the Algar and Guadalest basins receive higher precipitations, averaging roughly 600 liters per square meter, while the Amadorio basin records notably lower totals, about 225 l/m² annually.
Until 1997, the ministry carried out a major project—the Phenols Pumping and the Phenols-Amadorio Pipeline—that effectively separated Marina Baja from the larger Júcar and Segura basins. Water has long been treated as a scarce resource, subject to significant fluctuations. Consequently, Marina Baja has applied circular economy and sustainability principles for years, emphasizing water reuse. The three Advanced Water Treatments (AATs) at Benidorm, Villajoyosa, and Altea form a cornerstone of this circular economy.
The coastal region faces a difficult balance: the remarkable tourist and urban growth centered on Benidorm must be matched with highly variable water availability that changes considerably from year to year. Agreements between irrigation communities and the Consortium emerged to establish a framework for efficient, coherent, and sustainable water management across consortium municipalities and compatible irrigation communities.
Management and Resources of the Consortium
Water management promoted by the consortium stands as a model of collaboration built on shared goals, interdependence, and mutual commitment. This approach yields a powerful synergy, supported by comprehensive and proactive hydrological planning. It includes regulation of surface and groundwater flows, ongoing improvement of wells, and the addition of new boreholes. A standout feature is the extensive reuse of reclaimed water through a common pipeline network that enables a harmonious integration of two independent systems—fresh water and recycled water—adjusted to rainfall and hydrological year conditions. This synergy is often cited as the most distinctive aspect of Marina Baja’s integrated water mechanism.
There is also the use of external flows via the Rabasa-Phenols-Amadorio pipeline or storage at the Mutxamel desalination plant. During prolonged droughts, treated wastewater from Villajoyosa and Altea WWTPs, alongside Benidorm WWTP, can be redirected to additional uses in agriculture, ensuring high water availability when rainfall is scarce.
Overall, well-negotiated agreements and solid hydrological actions have helped address one of Spain’s notable water imbalances. This demonstrates how well-planned management and shared infrastructure can foster cooperative arrangements among users whose positions might otherwise be contentious or hard to reconcile.
Management of surface and groundwater, along with storage in the Guadalest and Amadorio reservoirs, and the regeneration and distribution of reused water for irrigation resources, are key priorities. Energy costs for these operations rose sharply in 2022, threatening higher distribution prices. The economic impact of these adjustments heavily influences the water-energy balance. In periods of strong drought, reliance on external flows through the Rabasa-Phenols-Amadorio connection becomes a critical consideration, highlighting the need to maintain emergency capabilities from the outset. The consortium recommends committing to a minimum annual water transfer to safeguard infrastructure and ensure maximum water supply reliability.
Climate change is already evident and its implications are driving efforts to boost the efficiency of water supply and irrigation. This strategy aims to curb demand and ensure sustainable resource provisioning, supported by solid planning focused on two axes: increasing storage capacity to capitalize on seasonal surpluses and advancing wastewater treatment infrastructure. Extending tertiary treatment at Benidorm WWTP and implementing new tertiary facilities at Altea and Villajoyosa WWTPs will require sustained support from major administrations and policymakers. It is clear that Marina Baja’s long-term water security hinges on continued infrastructure investments.
Alongside infrastructure planning, energy-saving projects are underway, with potential subsidies at the European level to support a low-carbon transition. Investments include photovoltaic plants for onsite power, small hydro projects, and future prospects for self-consumption. A digital transformation is also in progress, with modern SCADA systems and integrated data platforms forming the backbone of a digital twin for proactive water management.