The reform of WWTP II will increase Palma's purification capacity to 90,000 cubic meters daily

PalmaThe Palma City Council and the Ministry of the Sea and the Water Cycle have signed this Tuesday the protocol to promote the execution of the new outfall of the Wastewater Treatment Plant (EDAR II), located in Playa de Palma, as well as the new treatment lines 5 and 6. These actions will allow the plant's purification capacity to be increased from the current 60,000 cubic meters per day to 90,000.

The actions have a budget of 60 million euros, 22 of which are allocated to lines 5 and 6 of the plant and the rest to the outfall, which will be nearly seven kilometers long, five of which will be in the Bay of Palma and beyond the posidonia meadows.

The works for phase 1 of the EDAR II reform have been in the testing phase since June 30. The works for phase 2, in which lines 5 and 6 will be built, could begin in 2027 and the objective is for them to be completed in 2028. On the other hand, the objective is for the outfall works to begin in 2028. In addition, the creation of a seventh treatment line is planned, but this is not yet in the project.

The protocol was signed by the mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, and the Minister of the Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, who stated that the Executive, through Abaqua, has more than 100 projects underway for investment in treatment plants throughout the Balearic Islands, with investments exceeding 120 million euros.

In the case of EDAR II, the mayor recalled that the regenerated water is used for agricultural purposes in various areas such as Son Ferriol and Sant Jordi.

In 2021, during the legislature of Francina Armengol, a first agreement was signed for 120 million euros, which included the first four treatment lines, of approximately 60,000 cubic meters per day.

EDAR I, in s'Aranjasa, has a capacity of between 35,000 and 40,000 cubic meters per day.

Reservoir status

Furthermore, Emaya's manager, Lorenzo Morey, and the councillor and president of Emaya, Llorenç Bauzá, have explained that the Cúber and Gorg Blau reservoirs, which supply Palma, are at 50% of their capacity, 5% more than last year.

Water scarcity

On the other hand, when asked about the possible water shortage when all the housing developments planned by the City Council begin to run out, the mayor of Palma said that Emaya's reports indicate that there will be "water sufficiency". In general terms, the municipal shock plan foresees the construction of about 1,000 new homes in the coming years. It should be remembered that in the long term, about 46,000 more homes are planned and that several experts have warned on different occasions: “The numbers for water don't add up”.