Towards a correct water management in Alcudiamar

Alcudia is a leading tourist destination in the Mediterranean, and one of its main natural attractions revolves around its beaches, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems. It is clear that proper water management is essential to ensure sustainable, quality tourism.

At the same time, the nautical sector caters to a customer who is increasingly aware of issues affecting environmental sustainability. This demand requires specific measures for the conservation and improvement of water resources, which are a fundamental factor not only for the enjoyment of our visitors, but also for the social and economic environment of our tourist destination.

Alcudiamar's mission is focused on offering a quality service and management based on continuous improvement to achieve the best standards in environmental management. As part of our business strategy committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of our main concerns is to implement measures aimed at the efficient management of water and water resources. To this end, we are developing different actions around four fundamental axes, which complement each other:

1. Measures to reduce water consumption:

• We offer water and electricity supply to vessels through a new system of smart turrets (Tally Web), where you only pay for the consumption made, a value that is known in real time. The user manages the service at all times via a mobile device, resulting in a more responsible use of energy and water. Tallyweb has improved the water consumption management programme (when the sensor has been in use for one hour, the electrovalve is automatically closed).

• Other measures that Alcudiamar is carrying out to reduce water consumption are the installation of water reduction devices in taps and showers, which save up to 50% of the final water bill, as well as its consumption, the obligation to use a pistol in the hoses of the pontoons, the programming of night watering, and the automation of processes, for example in our bathrooms and changing rooms for customers, fully sensorised to avoid wasting water in showers, sinks, urinals.

2. Measures to improve water quality:

• Oxygenation system: The aim of this installation is to improve port quality, in this case by forcing the transfer of oxygen into it. For this purpose, portable aerators mounted on flotation basins are used so that they can be carried and operated at any point in the harbour. 

• Recirculation system: The installation of this new system is made up of a seawater collection tower located on the outer breakwater of the port, which is connected to a wet tank in which two seawater pumps are installed capable of renewing all the water in the harbour basin in 21 days, operating 10 hours a day, with a pumped flow of 360m3/h each pump.

• Research project for marine bioremediation using mussels.

• Multiparametric probe: In order to control and monitor the quality of the water in the harbour basin, a fixed installation for monitoring and measuring water quality parameters has been installed in the area with the highest rainwater discharges in the municipality in the harbour basin. This probe measures chemical parameters, temperature, hydrocarbons, among others. This fixed station is connected to the Alcudiamar port network for control and follow-up of the measurements taken by the different sensors. 

• Collection of dirty water by suction system (flovac): avoiding discharges into the sea, a totally free service provided to our clients. Alcudiamar was the first port in the Balearic Islands and the second in Spain to implement this pioneering system.

3. Adoption of circular practices

• Perimeter collection of rainwater and boat cleaning water from the boatyard

• Reclaimed water tanks

• 5000 litre rainwater tanks, also for irrigation water.

4. Developing awareness campaigns and educational programmes for the local community as well as for customers and employees.

• We communicate our practices in our facilities, on our social media, through our events and to our staff. 

• It is also important not just to do things, and communicate them, but to certify that you do them well. And for this, we have numerous endorsements in terms of quality, management and sustainability, such as ISO 14001, the Q flag for Quality or the Blue Flag, which we have been receiving year after year for more than 25 years now. In fact, the first certification obtained by the Alcudiamar Marina was in 2003, and the Botel obtained it in 2013, as we entered into its management shortly before.