The sewage and drainage network in Aranjuez has suffered from capacity issues for years, exacerbated by increasingly frequent adverse weather events. Episodes of overflows and flooding in the city's low-lying areas, such as the Mar de Ontígola or Postas street, highlight the obsolescence of the collector network, characterized by insufficient size, poor drain distribution, and blockages from tree roots.
The urbanization of historically draining areas and the channeling of streams have increased surface runoff, forcing the network to handle significant pressure. A 2007 study and a subsequent phase in 2012 already warned of the need for comprehensive actions, which were never executed due to a lack of resources, despite the existence of the local land and housing company SAVIA.
A critical point is pumping station number 1, located in the old Cuartel de Guardias Españolas, where the Archimedes screw cannot evacuate the high volume of water during heavy rains. This leads to discharges into the Tajo river, affecting an area of high environmental and heritage protection, as occurred in 2009.
ACIPA's proposal is based on the Green Infrastructure Strategy for the Aranjuez Cultural Landscape, which emphasizes the need to manage floodwaters and utilize rainwater. Other cities, like Madrid, have implemented storm surge basins to prevent flooding and treat water.
The SANEA Plan from Canal de Isabel II offers technical support and financing through advantageous loans, repaid via a surcharge on water bills. Municipalities such as Alcorcón (€24.2 million), Móstoles (nearly €50 million), and Fuenlabrada and Getafe have already signed agreements to renovate their networks.
ACIPA requests the City Council to study adherence to the SANEA Plan, considering financial sustainability and the technical guidelines from the 2007 sanitation services project. It also calls for continued pursuit of direct subsidies for improvement plans stalled by a lack of own funds, and reiterates the need to charge the neighboring municipality of Ontígola for the use of the southern collector and treatment network.
