Catastrophic Flooding Leaves Thousands Without Water as Recovery Efforts Continue
The recent torrential rains have wreaked havoc across 78 municipalities, resulting in at least 214 confirmed deaths and a significant number of individuals reported missing. Over 600,000 residents were left without a water supply, although this figure has now decreased to just over 7,000 users within a span of twelve days. Despite the reduction in those affected, the situation remains critical; in 60 municipalities, authorities are advising residents to boil water before consumption, while water in five other municipalities has been deemed non-potable even after boiling.
The Ministry responsible for the response emphasized that the primary issues have shifted from general water supply to concerns regarding water quality and the state of installations in each building. There is hope that full water supply restoration for all users could be achieved within approximately ten days.
In addition to water supply challenges, 34 municipalities are grappling with significant sewer system problems, particularly with smaller collectors that are clogged. Unfortunately, many of these areas lack the necessary machinery for cleaning, which compounds the difficulties. In situations where sewer networks require replacement, the Ministry is advocating for a move towards separative systems to distinctly handle stormwater and sewage.
The flooding has also heavily impacted 122 treatment plants in the province, with varying degrees of damage reported. After the deluge associated with the storm Dana, only 47 of these facilities remained operational; that number has now increased to 96, though 23 are only partially operational. Currently, 12 treatment plants are completely inoperable. Forecasts suggest that within a year, nine out of the twelve partially operational plants may be repaired, and ten out of the thirteen inoperable facilities may be restored to functionality.
To expedite recovery efforts, treatment plants that need to be rebuilt will be located in the same areas, eliminating the need for a new environmental assessment. Additionally, the Ministry has begun addressing the vast amount of sludge washed away by the flooding, estimated to be between 4 and 5 million cubic meters. An emergency team has been formed from the CSIC and the Geological and Mining Institute to identify potential disposal locations, likely in unused quarries.
So far, three possible storage sites have been identified, all of which consist of impermeable and low-permeability soils to prevent any adverse effects on the subsoil. The priority sites are located in Picassent, Montserrat and Chiva. Preliminary assessments suggest that the majority of the sludge is composed of runoff from non-contaminated agricultural land and mixed materials; however, there are sections mixed with sewage or industrial discharges that will necessitate prior treatment.
As recovery and cleanup efforts continue, the affected municipalities remain on high alert, facing the daunting task of restoring not only their water supply but also their sewer systems, to safeguard public health and stability in the aftermath of this environmental disaster.
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