The Balearic Government and the Palma City Council have signed the protocol to construct a new outfall of nearly seven kilometres linked to the Palma II treatment plant. The infrastructure, costing over €39.6 million, aims to improve the sanitation of the bay and ensure the evacuation of excess regenerated water.
The Minister of the Sea and Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, and the Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, signed this Tuesday at the City Hall the protocol that promotes the construction of a 6.8-kilometre outfall for the Palma II treatment plant. Of that route, 1.5 kilometres will be on land and 5.35 kilometres under the sea, to discharge the excess regenerated water into the open sea.
The total investment exceeds €39.6 million, a figure that adds to the €22 million planned for the future treatment lines 5 and 6 of the same treatment plant. The objective, according to Lafuente, is to "strengthen the protection of the bay of Palma, ensure the proper functioning of the treatment system, and continue advancing towards a more efficient and sustainable water management model."
A key infrastructure for sanitation
The Palma II wastewater treatment plant, one of the main hydraulic infrastructures in the Balearics, is in the process of expansion and modernisation. The new outfall will allow the evacuation of regenerated water volumes that cannot be reused, thus preventing the system from becoming saturated and reducing environmental risks.
The minister emphasised that the action is "essential for the future of the city's sanitation." The bay of Palma faces significant urban and tourist pressure, and this infrastructure aims to adapt the network to current and future needs. For Palma residents, this translates to a lower likelihood of discharges and an improvement in the water quality of the beaches.
Agricultural uses and shared funding
The signed protocol also opens the door for the Balearic Government to help finance the portion corresponding to the Palma City Council through resources from the sanitation fee, the insularity factor, or other regional, national, or European sources. Both administrations will create a monitoring committee that will meet periodically to coordinate progress.
Furthermore, the regenerated water that is not discharged into the sea could have agricultural uses in areas like Son Ferriol and Sant Jordi, a detail that not only alleviates pressure on the outfall but also provides an additional water resource for farmers in the region. Thus, the infrastructure not only protects the coastline but also promotes a circular water economy.
The next step will be the drafting of the construction project, with bidding expected in the coming months. In the meantime, Palma residents can breathe a little easier: the bay will have an underwater ally of nearly seven kilometres to keep it clean.
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