Taibilla launches €2.97M replacement of asbestos‑cement pipeline to secure Torrevieja water supply
- mancomunidad de Canales del Taibilla (MCT) will invest €2,965,914 to replace a 2 km section of asbestos‑cement (fibrocemento) pipeline serving Torrevieja.
- project is 60% co‑financed with European funds and has a 12‑month execution period.
- new pipeline will be ductile‑iron, more than 0.5 m in diameter, to increase transport capacity and reduce breakdowns.
- work runs from Los Montesinos industrial estate to La Siesta (torrevieja) and includes special crossings and limited land expropriations.
- Part of a broader MCT investment plan that includes a €23M Vistabella underground reservoir (65,000 m3) to improve storage for murcia and Alicante areas.
Introduction
Torrevieja – The public water body Mancomunidad de Canales del Taibilla (MCT), dependent on Spain’s Ministry for the Ecological Transition, has approved a near‑€3 million investment to replace a critical stretch of buried pipeline that supplies potable water to the tourist city of Torrevieja. The work, partially funded by the European Union, targets reliability and capacity improvements in a sensitive natural area between the La Mata and Torrevieja lagoons.
What the project includes
- Budget: €2,965,914 with 60% financed by EU funds.
- length: approximately 2 kilometres, between the Los Montesinos industrial estate and the La Siesta residential area (Torrevieja).
- Material: replacement of asbestos‑cement (fibrocemento) pipes-installed in the 1960s/70s-with a ductile‑iron pipeline more than 0.5 m in diameter.
- execution time: 12 months.
- Special works: steel pipe jacking (hinca de acero) for the crossing under the CV‑945 regional road and reinstatement of agricultural services.
- Expropriations: mainly temporary,affecting about 10,000 m² for construction access and works.
Why the upgrade is needed
MCT explained the main aim is to increase the pipeline’s capacity to transport higher flows and reduce frequent breakdowns caused by the heavy demand on that ramal. Although asbestos‑cement pipes have been prohibited since 2001 in Spain, many of the supply lines built in the 1960s and 1970s remain in service. The section that brought Taibilla water to Torrevieja was first put into operation in 1972.
The MCT also stressed that continuous,real‑time water quality monitoring has not detected contamination issues from the existing asbestos‑cement in normal operational conditions. The risk is associated with material degradation in very specific situations, which reinforces the prudence of replacing these legacy conduits when undertaking upgrades.
Environmental context and protected area
The pipeline runs in an area with environmental protection figures between the two lagoons,La Mata and Torrevieja.The project design takes these constraints into account, seeking to balance infrastructure needs with preservation of the natural habitats that attract tourists and residents alike.
Where this fits into wider MCT investments
This replacement is one of many investments MCT is authorising across its distribution network that serves about 80 municipalities in Alicante, the Region of Murcia and Albacete. Recent approvals include upgrades affecting some thirty towns in the south and center of Alicante province-Alicante city, Elche, crevillent, Santa Pola-and the 27 municipalities of the Vega Baja.
Vistabella underground reservoir – €23 million project
Alongside pipeline renewals, MCT is reviving the second underground storage tank at Vistabella (Jacarilla). Key facts:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Budget | €23 million (60% EU co‑financing) |
| Capacity | 65,000 m³ (same as existing tank) |
| Location | Sierra de Benejúzar – semi‑buried, gravity feed advantage |
| Purpose | Improve regulation and storage for metropolitan Murcia and parts of Alicante |
The Vistabella tank project – originally conceived in 2020 and paused due to financing constraints - aims to boost the MCT’s ability to buffer peaks in demand or outages, and to store desalinated water produced at plants such as Torrevieja and San Pedro. Although the Torrevieja desalination plant produces sizeable volumes, much of its output (around 83 hm³/year) is currently allocated to irrigation within the Tajo‑Segura transfer community; urban supply from Torrevieja desalination would be preferential only in cases of extreme drought.
Historical background of water supply to Torrevieja
- 1972 – First Taibilla ramal started supplying potable water to Torrevieja.
- Late 1970s - Regularisation and expansion of supply took place after the Tajo‑Segura transfer began delivering additional water in 1979.
- 2013 onward – Desalinated water became another meaningful source to cover growing demand.
- Present – Torrevieja receives about 12 hm³ (hectometres cubed) per year to meet municipal and tourist needs.
What residents and stakeholders should know
- Duration: Expect construction activity lasting up to 12 months. MCT has notified affected municipalities and will handle scheduled temporary land occupations and some limited expropriations.
- Service impact: MCT’s plan focuses on minimizing disruptions. Where possible, works will be phased and require road crossing techniques (steel jacking) to reduce interference with traffic and farming activities.
- Health and safety: MCT maintains that water quality monitoring shows no present contamination from asbestos‑cement pipes, but replacement is being done to improve reliability and remove legacy material.
- Funding: The project is largely EU‑funded, part of the Operational Programme 2021-2027 Feder co‑financing.
Why this matters
Upgrading old infrastructure is critical for coastal towns like Torrevieja that face seasonal population spikes and high tourist demand. Replacing aging asbestos‑cement pipelines with modern ductile‑iron mains increases hydraulic capacity,reduces the frequency of leaks and breaks,and aligns network assets with current health,safety and environmental standards. Coupled with new storage capacity at Vistabella, the investments strengthen long‑term water security for residents, agriculture and tourism across the Vega baja and Murcia area.
Timeline and next steps
- Approval and start of public tender (already authorised by MCT executive committee).
- Expropriation notifications issued to affected landowners; temporary occupations and final permissions to be formalised.
- Contract award and mobilisation of construction teams; expected 12‑month work schedule.
- Completion, testing and connection to the distribution network; monitoring to ensure increased capacity and reliability.
Keywords
Torrevieja, Mancomunidad de canales del Taibilla, MCT, water supply, pipeline replacement, asbestos‑cement, fibrocemento, ductile iron, EU funds, Feder, desalination, Vistabella reservoir, La pedrera, tajo‑Segura, Vega Baja, Los Montesinos, La Siesta.
Source and credits
- Primary source: INFORMACIÓN – “Taibilla sustituirá fibrocemento en el ramal que abastece de agua a Torrevieja”, 21 September 2025. (https://www.informacion.es/vega-baja/2025/09/21/taibilla-sustituira-fibrocemento-ramal-abastece-agua-torrevieja-121794996.html)