Summary
- The Generalitat Valenciana authorizes €14.3 million project funded by EU to improve drainage at the Segura River mouth and Azarbe del Señor canal.
- Project aims to prevent flooding in municipalities including Formentera, Rojales, Daya Vieja, San Fulgencio, Guardamar del Segura.
- Approximately 190,000 cubic meters of sediment will be dredged to increase water flow capacity.
- Azarbe del Señor will be “uncovered” from its current enclosed tube to enhance drainage and irrigation efficiency.
- Construction is scheduled to last eleven months and managed by public company Tragsa.
- Environmental permits granted despite concerns about sediment contamination and dispersal raised by local groups.
Valencian Government Launches €14.3 Million Flood Prevention Plan for Segura River and Azarbe del Señor
The Generalitat Valenciana has greenlighted a significant hydraulic infrastructure project aiming to bolster flood defenses in the southern Alicante region. With €14.3 million in funding sourced partly from European Union funds, the plan focuses on enhancing the drainage capacity at the critical mouth of the Segura River and the Azarbe del Señor irrigation canal.
Background: Learning from Past Floods
The devastating floods in September 2019 highlighted major deficiencies in the hydraulic infrastructure across the Vega Baja comarca. Sediment accumulation at the Segura River’s mouth had substantially reduced its ability to channel water, posing a serious threat to low-lying urban and agricultural areas during heavy rains.This project is part of the Plan Vega Renhace, a post-flood recovery program targeting multiple water management improvements across the area.
Major Components of the Flood Prevention Project
- Dredging the Segura River Mouth: Around 190,000 cubic meters of sediment will be removed,primarily from the old riverbed where irrigation canals converge. This dredging, with a budget of €6.1 million, is essential to restore the river’s natural drainage volume, reducing flood risk during torrential rains.
- Uncovering and Expanding Azarbe del Señor: A further €8.2 million investment will focus on restoring this critical irrigation and drainage canal, wich currently operates through enclosed tubes. The works will reopen and expand the canal, increasing capacity to prevent water backup and flooding in several municipalities along the left margin of the river-including Formentera, Rojales, Daya Vieja, San Fulgencio, and Guardamar del Segura.
Why This Matters
These interventions address two key problems:
- Blocked Drains and Sedimentation: Continuous rainfall, especially during the severe 2019 “DANA” weather event, caused sediment build-up that effectively clogged parts of the river’s mouth, obstructing water flow.
- Inadequate Canal Capacity: the Azarbe del Señor canal’s current tubular design limits its ability to efficiently evacuate excess water from irrigated lands and rain runoff,increasing flood risk for the surrounding communities.
Environmental and Administrative Details
The Generalitat Valenciana’s Directorate General of Urbanism, Landscape, and Environmental Evaluation granted the environmental clearance for the project in May 2025.This decision came despite objections from several environmental groups concerned about the potential dispersion of contaminants in the dredged sediments.
The execution of these works will be carried out by the public company Tragsa, with the construction phase planned to last approximately eleven months.
Municipalities Benefitting from the Project
| Municipality | Expected Benefit |
|---|---|
| Formentera | Reduced flood risk in agricultural and periurban zones |
| Rojales | Improved drainage and irrigation capacity |
| Daya Vieja | Mitigated flooding in low-lying residential areas |
| San Fulgencio | Enhanced water evacuation during heavy rains |
| Guardamar del Segura | Increased resilience against future torrential events |
Looking Ahead
The new dredging and canal recovery works signify an significant step toward modernizing the hydraulic infrastructure in the Vega Baja region. Areas affected by repeated flooding will benefit from improved water flow systems designed to handle extreme weather events expected to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change.
By investing in robust drainage and flood prevention technologies, the Generalitat Valenciana is actively working to safeguard the homes, agriculture, and livelihoods of thousands of residents across the southern province of Alicante.