The calm around La Duquesa Golf Course in Manilva was disrupted this morning when a burst main belonging to Acosol caused a spectacular water leak that completely flooded the A-7 motorway, affecting traffic and putting the municipal authorities on alert.
The incident took place at around 10:30, when an 800-millimetre Acosol pipe, one of the main ones in the network, burst, presumably because of an air pocket. The leak was of such magnitude that «thousands, millions of cubic metres of litres of water have come out», according to initial estimates from the Town Hall.
The uncontrolled flow sought the lowest point, overflowing the golf course’s new wall and pouring directly onto the motorway, where the ditch could not cope with the volume. The water crossed all four lanes of the A-7 until it reached the Los Granados area and entered the Los Pelícanos housing development.
The response from the Town Hall was immediate and coordinated. The mayor of Manilva and the Public Works councillor quickly went to the scene to oversee the emergency work. Mayor Mario Jiménez reported from the scene, urging caution for those driving along the A7.
Jiménez also wished to make clear from the outset that the fault was «totally unrelated to the Town Hall» and confirmed that Acosol’s repair crew was already on its way to the area to resolve the problem. The Local Police were the first to raise the alarm, followed by traffic police, who came to restore order on the motorway, which was left completely waterlogged.
Public Works councillor Marcos Ruiz described the swift response of the emergency teams: «A lot of people have gathered here to work, very quickly and in a very coordinated way. Shortly afterwards the on-call service from Hidralia and Acosol’s on-call team arrived, to relieve the water that was pooling and to shut off the water, which was the priority at that moment.»
IMPACT ON THE WATER SUPPLY OVER THE COMING DAYS
However, despite the swift intervention according to municipal representatives, the incident will have direct consequences for the municipality. Councillor Ruiz warned that the fault is «difficult» and that the repair will be carried out after the bank holiday weekend. In the meantime, Manilva loses its supply of water from Acosol, leaving the supply entirely dependent on Hidralia’s wells and the reserves in the municipal tanks.
«For this reason, in the coming days, the first three or four days of this week, we may notice a drop in flow and a drop in pressure, so as far as possible we must try to use as little water as possible, so that with our wells, as Hidralia is already working this afternoon to increase the pressure and the water supply, we can maintain a service in which residents are affected as little as possible,» said Marcos Ruiz from the affected area.
APPEAL FOR RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION
Manilva Town Hall is appealing to residents to be especially responsible in their water use over the coming days, to avoid general supply problems while the repair of the main pipe is carried out.
