The Valencian Government has granted approval for vital infrastructure works at the mouth of the River Segura. This initiative aims to facilitate drainage at the river’s left bank, significantly reducing the risk of flood damage in the region. A total of fourteen point three million euros is being allocated through European funding to finance these essential upgrades, which include dredging and enhancing local irrigation canals. The expected completion period for these works is eleven months.

The impetus for these measures stems from the catastrophic flooding events of September two thousand and nineteen, which highlighted severe deficiencies in the area’s hydraulic infrastructure. As part of the Vega Renhace plan, the government set out to address these priority actions, including essential dredging and canal upgrades. Continuous rainfall in recent years has led to sediment accumulation at the river’s mouth, impeding drainage capabilities and increasing flood risks for low-lying areas.

In the upcoming works, approximately six point one million euros will be invested in dredging an estimated one hundred and ninety thousand cubic metres of sediment from both the old and new riverbeds, ensuring uninterrupted drainage during heavy downpours. Although concerns were raised regarding contaminants in the sediments, the Valencian General Directorate of Urban Planning and Environmental Assessment has determined the project can proceed.

Additionally, further efforts will focus on the azarbe del Señor, a channel vital for irrigation and stormwater drainage across agricultural lands in the municipalities of Formentera, Rojales, Daya Vieja, San Fulgencio, and Guardamar del Segura. An investment of eight point two million euros aims to restore this channel’s historical function, thus reducing flooding risk for urban and rural residences in the affected areas.