Burial of the rainwater collection network in the town of Maria de la Salut

The project

Water is a scarce commodity in the Balearic Islands. Maria de la Salut is currently facing challenges in terms of water management and urban infrastructure, especially in the lower part of town. The rainwater collection network, which operates above ground, is insufficient to absorb all the rainwater. This results in flooding of streets and water entering homes during heavy rainfall, causing inconvenience and financial loss to homeowners.

As for the drinking water network, the fibre cement pipes are more than 38 years old and are constantly leaking, causing the loss of 35% of the water transported. These losses are particularly serious between Plaza des Pou and the Santa Margalida road, where pressure is highest, making urgent action necessary.

Pavements in the affected streets are not wide enough (40 to 90 cm) and force many pedestrians to walk on the road, putting their safety at risk. These pavements do not comply with current accessibility regulations and the constant road traffic increases their danger. The asphalt of the road is also very deteriorated, which makes the traffic even worse.

Thus, the project foresees the design of a new rainwater collection network complementary to the existing one, with the capacity to absorb water from future connections. This system will allow rainwater to be managed more efficiently and will prevent flooding in streets and homes.

The drinking water main will also be replaced to reduce current losses and ensure a more efficient supply. This new pipeline will be connected to the branches supplying water to the cross streets, which will improve service throughout the network.

As for the pavements, they will be widened to comply with accessibility regulations and ensure the safety of all pedestrians. This improvement will allow pedestrians to circulate safely, reducing the risk of accidents.

In addition, the action will allow drinking water pipes to be checked while the streets are open, in order to identify and repair other possible leaks. The aim is to reduce drinking water losses to less than 10%, a major improvement on the current level of losses.

This project will not only improve the management of rainwater and drinking water, a valuable resource in the Balearic Islands, but will also contribute to making the streets more attractive and accessible, thus improving the quality of life of the residents of Maria de la Salut.