TORREVIEJA | May 21, 2025 — A heated debate has emerged in Torrevieja over the proposed site for a second desalination plant, which could jeopardize the long-anticipated expansion of the city’s university hospital.
Government sources have identified the only viable land for the new facility—intended to produce 100 hectometres of water annually for agricultural use—as lying between the current desalination plant, the salt lagoon, and the Torrevieja University Hospital. However, using these plots, currently occupied by citrus groves, would block any possibility of enlarging the hospital and require compensation at urban land rates due to their classification under the La Ceñuela sector.
The existing desalination plant, operational since 2014, is undergoing expansion to increase its capacity from 80 to 120 hectometres annually. A similar space of around 90,000 square metres would be needed for the second plant.
Political Tensions and Hospital Needs
Local mayor and regional MP Eduardo Dolón (PP) warned that the proposed site would “eliminate any chance” of expanding the hospital. This marks the first time the Popular Party has vocally supported the hospital’s urgent expansion, which would nearly double its current size, following a model similar to Orihuela’s Vega Baja Hospital. Some health officials even argue that a second hospital may be necessary to meet the area’s growing demand.
Uncertain Location and Government Response
Despite recent statements from PSOE Murcia’s secretary general, Francisco Lucas, confirming the plant would be built in Torrevieja, the sub-delegate of the national government in Alicante, Juan Antonio Nieves, urged caution. “The location is not yet decided,” he said, emphasizing that any project must follow a transparent process with public input.
PSPV Breaks Silence
After nearly a month of silence on the controversial reduction of water transfers, the Alicante branch of the PSPV-PSOE finally responded, positioning desalination as a long-term solution. Provincial party leader Rubén Alfaro framed the issue within the context of climate change and recurring droughts, calling for a sustainable water supply mix that benefits both urban and agricultural needs.
However, Alfaro admitted that the party lacked detailed information about the desalination project—despite it being announced by a fellow party leader in Murcia. This disconnect has caused internal frustration among socialist leaders in the Vega Baja region, who felt blindsided by the Murcia-led announcement.
Technical and Strategic Concerns
Experts familiar with the Segura River Basin Plan warned against prematurely locking in a location. They noted that no preliminary studies have been done and no state-owned land is available in Torrevieja for such a development. Moreover, past infrastructure plans, like a solar power plant for the current desalination facility, also referenced Torrevieja but ended up elsewhere, such as in San Miguel de Salinas or Almoradí.
While proximity to the current plant offers technical advantages—such as existing intake and brine discharge systems—critics argue that placing another major facility in this infrastructure-heavy zone would cause over-saturation. The area already hosts the hospital, the current desalination plant, a sewage treatment facility, a power substation, and is awaiting road upgrades on the CV-95.
Some propose an alternative site in Guardamar del Segura, which was previously considered in the 2017–2021 water plan and would simplify distribution to key irrigation zones without costly interconnections.
Conclusion
As Torrevieja weighs the benefits of water security against critical health infrastructure needs, both local and regional authorities face increasing pressure to find a balanced solution. With climate change tightening its grip and political tensions on the rise, the outcome could shape the region’s development for decades to come.
