A critical opinion on the underwater emissary

1999/11/01 Plazaola, Garikoitz Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ekologia

It was officially celebrated the beginning of the construction works of the underwater emissary that will lead to the sea the dirty waters poured in the same coast of Ulía. A few days later we learned that the flood operation of the station had failed and, what is worse, that, for the moment, few know how to solve it in detail. However, before knowing the defeat, the critical opinion of EGUZKI on the submarine drainage was exposed and is maintained today, since the drainage is not only part of the sanitation planning of Donostialdea, nor is it the most important section.

First of all, it must be said that the beginning of the construction works of the submarine station highlights the delay in the sanitation of Donostialdea. Remember that the European Union's Sanitation Directive required to debug or debug the dirty waters poured into the sea before 2000. Attention: The directive obliged to purify the dirty waters, not to transport them to the sea. And that's the only thing the underwater emissary does, which is to take dirty water to the surface of the sea to facilitate its dispersion and dilution, that is, to detect less pollution.

To eradicate any misunderstanding, let us clarify that we are not against the underwater emissary and that we rejoice when the works began. But we rejoice to the extent that these works are a sign that the sanitation plan of Donostialdea advances, because what must be achieved here is that it is executed as soon as possible. When will it be done? When building the wastewater treatment plant in the Loiola quarries, the key to sanitation in Donostialdea is the wastewater treatment plant, not the underwater station. What's more, although we are not contrary to the drainage, we recognize that this underwater pipe generates certain concerns in us, that is, because of the lower pollution that the drainage will suffer, will the construction deadlines of the wastewater treatment plant not worsen? Whatever the answer, if you want to celebrate something in charge of the sanitation of Donostialdea, it is clear that it will be held on the day of the commissioning of the treatment plant. Unfortunately, years are missing until that day arrives.