Costa del Sol's key water supply project stuck in long delays

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For a year and a half, the expansion of the Verde water treatment plant has been waiting for the regional government to contract it

Chus Heredia

Monday, 27 April 2026, 11:34

The expansion of the Verde water treatment plant - the main project to guarantee the Costa del Sol's water supply - has been stuck in the tendering process since 28 November 2024. Like many other projects, it has passed through multiple (around 30) administrative procedures, without really moving forward.

This longstanding delay is attributable to successive regional governments. Meanwhile, this entire area continues having a fragile system that prevents it from reliably handling peak flows during the high season and which, with only minor adjustments, is practically the same as it was in the 1970s.

The Andalusian regional ministry of agriculture, in collaboration with water company Acosol, has set out to unblock this strategic infrastructure. The project, under the decree of measures against drought, costs more than 53 million euros.

Structure dating back to 1972

The original plant dates back to 1972. It is currently operating at its limit. With a capacity of 2,300 litres per second, technicians must perform complex manoeuvres to meet peak summer demand exceeding 4,000 litres per second.

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