Costa del Sol Rolls Out €175m Water Grid Transformation

Costa del Sol Rolls Out €175m Water Grid Transformation

By Costa del Sol News 7 October 2026 2 min read

Water utility Acosol begins major infrastructural works backed by European funding to protect drinking water across 11 coastal municipalities.

A sweeping overhaul of regional water security is entering its operational stage. Public water company Acosol is implementing the initial contracts of an extensive €175 million water infrastructure upgrade, supported by funding lines through the European Investment Bank. The works aim to protect drinking reserves, reduce pipe leakage, and modernize purification across 11 Costa del Sol municipalities.

Modernising Aging Water Conduits

Drought resilience remains the single most pressing long-term challenge confronting southern Andalusia. With regional reservoirs running beneath historical averages during prolonged heat periods, the coastal utility provider has prioritised eliminating systemic inefficiencies within distribution pipelines.

Technicians are actively replacing more than 30 kilometres of primary water mains, many dating back four decades. Old asbestos-cement and degraded iron conduits are being swapped for high-capacity cast iron and polyethylene lines equipped with digital acoustic leak detectors. These initial upgrades focus on heavily populated zones between Torremolinos, Fuengirola, and Mijas, preventing millions of litres from disappearing into subterranean soil.

Sustainable Desalination and Reclaimed Networks

A central component of the capital programme involves the large-scale integration of renewable solar arrays at the regional desalination plant in Marbella. By generating clean on-site electricity, water authorities plan to cut operational desalination costs and ensure steady output even during peak summer months when tourist populations double regional consumption.

Simultaneously, treatment plants across the western coast are undergoing comprehensive filtration retrofits. Secondary treated wastewater will undergo tertiary treatment, expanding recycled distribution pipe networks to supply municipal parks, street washing, and coastal golf courses. Diverting golf and irrigation needs entirely to reclaimed water reserves safeguards regional drinking reservoirs for household use.

Strengthening Western Andalusia for the Future

Civic leaders have underscored that economic growth and regional housing demand cannot proceed without reinforced underground utilities. As municipal councils approve long-term urban plans, the availability of verified water supply remains a non-negotiable legal hurdle.

Contractors will coordinate with local police departments across affected coastal towns to minimize highway and suburban lane disruptions during pipeline excavation over the coming weeks. The comprehensive programme guarantees that future growth on the Costa del Sol rests on durable, climate-resilient water infrastructure.

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