The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Ramón Fernández-Pacheco, inaugurated the Sewage Treatment Plant (EDAR) and the sewer grouping of the municipality of Porcuna in Jaén, an initiative that the Andalusian government has invested 6.6 million euros in and has been handed over to the local council.
During his speech, the Minister emphasized that this infrastructure addresses a legal and environmental need because the sewage from this locality was being discharged into various watercourses without receiving any treatment, «causing environmental damage and non-compliance with European water directives.»
The nearly 6,000 residents of Porcuna now have a treatment plant equipped with the latest technologies, with the capacity to treat water for double the current population and fulfilling a longstanding demand of the municipality. The initiative was declared of community interest in 2010, 15 years ago, and has been financed through water fees.
Fernández-Pacheco stated that these works were «much needed for the agricultural sector,» highlighting that the Andalusian government has completed 24 hydraulic purification projects in the province since 2019, declared of community interest, compared to just two between 2010 and 2018.
18 projects underway totaling 57 million euros
Among the 24 completed purification projects are those carried out in municipalities such as Arjona, Úbeda, Arjonilla, Martos, La Carolina, Mengíbar, Villargordo, La Guardia, and Torredonjimeno.
Additionally, the Regional Government currently has 18 ongoing projects with an investment of 57 million euros in municipalities like Linares (5.6 million euros), Navas de San Juan (8 million euros), and Villanueva del Arzobispo (7.9 million euros), among others.
These are complemented by seven projects in the bidding process, ten approved projects awaiting bidding, and 26 project designs in progress, 13 of which are in smaller communities. The total amount allocated to purification projects has exceeded 210 million euros since 2019, demonstrating the Regional Government’s commitment to the province of Jaén, as highlighted by the Minister.
The new EDAR in Porcuna features three buildings for operation, control, and disinfection. The facilities are supplemented by the necessary networks for drinking and industrial water, compressed air, and drainage, as well as workshop equipment, a laboratory, spare parts, furniture, and the corresponding electrical safety elements.
On the other hand, the recently inaugurated sewer grouping includes four new overflow outlets. The northern collector spans 3,490 meters, the southern one 5,747 meters, adding up to a total length of 9,341 meters including the 104 meters at the entrance and exit of the EDAR.