Los Alcázares prepares for autumn rains with major works on key flood defence planned

The four-kilometre D7 channel intercepts rainwater runoff before it reaches Los Alcázares and carries it towards the Rambla del Albujón

When heavy rain arrives, water can build up quickly around the Mar Menor, putting roads, fields and built-up areas under pressure. That's why a four-kilometre drainage channel near Los Alcázares is about to get some much-needed attention, with work being lined up ahead of the autumn months.

The Confederación Hidrográfica del Segura (CHS) has awarded a €164,628.86 contract to Fortuna-based company Retamar Obras, Servicios y Medio Ambiente to clean and maintain the D7 drainage channel.

The channel might not be something most residents give much thought to during the year, but it has an important job when heavy rain arrives.

The channel referred to as D7 forms part of the area's flood defence infrastructure, intercepting rainwater running off the surrounding land before it can reach the built-up area of Los Alcázares. It then directs that water towards the Rambla del Albujón.

That makes keeping the channel clear particularly important as September and October approach, when the risk of torrential rainfall can increase across the Region.

Why does the channel need cleaning?

Like many drainage systems, the D7 gradually loses capacity as vegetation and other material build up inside it.

Cañas, or reeds, grow along the channel, particularly during periods of strong vegetation growth. Sediment and plant material can also be carried into the channel from agricultural areas.

All of this takes up valuable space and can restrict the flow of water. In a Region where very heavy rainfall can arrive in a short space of time, keeping that capacity available is an important part of maintaining the area's flood protection.

The newly awarded contract will cover the full four kilometres of the channel. Workers will clear vegetation from the banks and surrounding areas, remove reeds and invasive species, and clean out sediment and plant debris from the bottom.

The company will also carry out regular maintenance during the two-year contract, with particular attention before the periods considered to have the greatest risk of torrential rain.

There will also be scope for emergency intervention if the channel needs attention following an exceptional event, such as flooding or severe weather.

The work was put out to tender by the CHS in April with a starting budget of €211,306. Retamar was selected from six companies that submitted bids, with the final contract value considerably below that initial figure.

For residents of Los Alcázares and the Campo de Cartagena, it is one of those jobs that may go largely unnoticed when the weather is calm. Its importance becomes much clearer when the rain starts falling.

Images: Archive