The new desalination plant in Balerma has started producing clean drinking water. It is capable of producing 30 billion litres of water a year, sufficient for 300.000 people within its catchment area, as well as 8000 hectares of farmland. Vicar, El Ejido and Roquetas del Mar will all start to receive the new water this week.
However, it can only run at 30% of its full capacity as a new electricty substation has yet to be built, and the energy supply is insufficient. When running at full capacity it can fill 50 Olympic sized swimming pools a day. The new plant has cost 130 million euros to build with EU funds.