The project
The existing sewage treatment system in Portinatx, Ibiza, was installed in 1997, as part of a series of soft treatment systems which included: the breaking down of solids, lagoon systems for anaerobiosis by using a system of successive cascades which offer natural water ventilation and discharging it into the sea by underwater pipes.
The aim of these systems was to re-use the water to refill aquifers and for watering gardens or crops, and was supported by the EU LIFE programme. But over time, and mainly because of the increase in the population, they have turned out to have been rather ineffective at eliminating the main contaminants, limited by the European standard.
The poor state that the installations currently find themselves in means that the water cannot be used for such purposes, since they do not even comply with the conditions for dumping set out in law. In addition, the malfunctioning of the system is leading to the emission of bad odours in the surrounding area, with the consequent negative effects on nearby residents and tourists.
Therefore, and also because the town of Sant Joan de Labritja does not a have waste water treatment plant that meets current standards, the town hall has developed this project to construct a new WWTP so as to have the correct treatment of sewage before it is discharged and in line with expected levels of quality.
This project represents a priority action since it will involve the protection and recovery of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as improve air quality and bathing water. All of this will mean a better quality of life and an improvement in social well-being, which will drive sustainable, responsible and quality tourism in the town, which in turn will improve the economy in both the town and inland.