Lorraine Williamson
Alicante is ramping up efforts to guard against the kind of torrential downpours that have repeatedly battered Spain’s east coast. The city has launched a new round of drainage works and channel maintenance to prepare for the autumn rainy season and the increasingly frequent DANA storms that can trigger sudden, destructive floods.
One of the most significant projects is the excavation of a direct drainage route in the Aguamarga watercourse, allowing stagnant water to flow straight to the Mediterranean. Crews have cleared 500 cubic metres of mud from beneath the N-332 road and the regional railway bridge, increasing clearance height and restoring access for heavy machinery. This clearance is designed to keep maintenance safe and efficient during future storms.
Pressure on coastal authority
Despite the municipal works, the mouth of the Ovejas watercourse remains choked with mud. Alicante councillor Rafael Alemañ has urged Spain’s coastal authority (Costas) to provide a permanent structural solution so that stormwater can reach the sea without obstruction.
Joint action upstream
Further inland, the regional water authority Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar (CHJ) has reinforced sections of the Ovejas channel. City teams are now removing reeds and mud in the upper reaches to reduce blockages. Alemañ emphasised that close cooperation between local and regional agencies is vital to guarantee annual maintenance.
Maintenance at Albufereta
With the summer tourist season over, the city will begin work on the Jucaret–Orgegia drainage channel, which empties into Albufereta beach. The artificial channel requires regular inspections from the Santa Faz area to the sea to ensure uninterrupted flow.
Lessons from past disasters
Alicante’s determination to act stems from painful experience. Much of the modern city, including Rambla de Méndez Núñez and Avenida Óscar Esplá, sits on ancient riverbeds that once carried stormwater directly through the streets. After deadly floods in 1997 claimed five lives, the city and regional governments launched a comprehensive flood plan, building a network of channels, pipes and underpasses to divert water safely to the coast.
Building resilience for a changing climate
The latest measures aim to avoid a repeat of past tragedies and disasters like the 2024 DANA in Valencia, when record rainfall submerged entire neighbourhoods. By investing in proactive water management, Alicante hopes to protect residents and infrastructure as climate change makes extreme weather ever more likely.
Source: Todo Alicante