CIRCUREVIEJA - Decantation circuit of
residual salts and ecological recovery of the
Natural Park of Las Lagunas de la Mata and
Torrevieja
LIFE08 NAT/E/000077
Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e Contact details:
Project Manager: Pedro GOMEZ MATEO
Fax: +34 965705149
Email: p g o m e z m a t e o @ s a l i n s . c o m
Project description:
Background
Salt production in the salt lakes of Torrevieja and La Mata has for more than two
centuries maintained a stable level of water in both lakes. This situation has led
over time to the creation of a wetland of great international importance for birds
that is currently included on the Ramsar list. This area is also protected as part
of the Natura 2000 network and as a natural park. While industrial saline activities have had some positive environmental impacts,
progressive silting of the Torrevieja salt lake is a cause of concern. Accumulation
of mud is linked to rain water runoff and gypsum contained in the sea water as
well as the brine coming from Pinoso. The salt extraction process in the
Torrevieja lagoon also produces waste materials, and the salt obtained has to be
cleaned using the brine of the lagoon before it becomes commercially viable.
When the project started, the brine crossed a decantation circuit before returning
to the lagoon, but this circuit was not efficient and 85% of the mud and gypsum
are returned to the lagoon.
The brine underwent a pre-wash using the brine from the lake in a cross current
in the area marked “Isla” (island) and another wash in the installation called “el
Lavadero” (the washing machine). It is in these two places that these residues
accumulated.
Objectives
The project aimed to: Reduce residual salts discharged in the lake of Torrevieja, a priority habitat
according to the Habitats Directive;
Aid the ecological recovery of the old decantation area – i.e the proliferation
of endemic spices and extension of the Audouin’s seagull nesting area;
Improve the environmental management in residual stockpiles of salt; and
Spread environmental awareness.
Results
LIFE funding enabled NCAST to construct an improved brine decantation circuit
to solve the environmental problem associated with inefficient decantation. This
new circuit has led to a 66% reduction in residual volume discharged into the
lake. It also accumulates all residues in one single spot, thus avoiding the
destruction of possible vegetation growth areas. The reinforcement of the last dyke of the circuit allows the maintenance of the
residual salt stockpile area in dry conditions. This land surrounding, surrounding
Torrevieja lake, has been extended to 35 ha. It is likely to become vegetated again
and therefore can be used for the Audouin’s gull and other nesting birds as their
nests will not be flooded by the brine. Moreover, this area can be colonised by
the habitats 1510* (Mediterranean salt steppes), 1310 (Salicornia and other
annuals colonising mud and sand) and 5330 (Thermo-Mediterranean and
pre-desert scrub).
The construction of the decantation circuit has led to an increase in the number
of potential nesting sites over an area of 35 ha that was previously constantly
flooded. Now this land is dry and favourable for nesting. As a result, the
population of Adounin’s seagull has steadily increased and the lakes have
become the second most important nesting site in the Mediterranean. The
construction of the brine decantation circuit is transferable to other salt marshes
with a salt extraction system (by means of a permanent flooded lagoon) similar
to the Torrevieja one. One objective of the project, however, wasn’t fully realised: the proliferation of
planted species, with the view to providing food for the Adouin’s seagull. But
only 5% of the species planted survived owing to the extreme conditions of the
lakes as well as the hitherto unknown presence of rabbits. Nevertheless, the area
is being naturally re-vegetated by vegetation already existing alongside the area.
The beneficiary has also improved the methodology for future plantations which
has been incorporated in the After-LIFE Conservation Plan. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report
and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section). Top
Environmental issues addressed:
Themes
Waste - Industrial waste
H abitats - F res h w a t er
Keywords
lake‚ industrial waste‚ waste reduction‚ wetland‚ diffuse pollution Target species
Larus audouinii Target Habitat types
1150 - Coa s t a l l ag o o n s
1310 - Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand
1510 - Mediterranean salt steppes (Limonietalia)
5330 - Thermo-Mediterranean and pre-desert scrub
Natura 2000 sites
Not applicable
Top
Beneficiaries:
Coordinator
Type of organisation
Description
Partners
Top
Nueva Compañía Arrendataria de las Salinas de
Torrevieja, S.A.
International enterprise
The beneficiary, Nueva Compañía Arrendataria
de las Salinas de Torrevieja, S.A. (NCAST), is a
subsidiary of Unión Salinera (which is the
parent company of Salins Ibérica) and has
owned the concession to extract salt from the
Torrevieja lagoon since 1951. None Administrative data:
Project reference
Duration
Total budget
EU contribution
Project location
LIFE08 NAT/E/000077
01-JAN-2010 to 30-JUL -2011
396,622.00 €
228,122.00 €
Comunidad Valenciana(España)
Top
Read more:
Project web site
Publication: After-LIFE
Conservation Plan
Publication: Layman report
Publication: Layman report
Publication: Technical report
Project's website
Title: Plan de conservación post-LIFE
Year: 2011 No of pages: 10 Title: Informe layman (5.3 MB) Year: 2011
Editor: NCA Salinas de Torrevieja S.A. No of
pages: 25 Title: Layman report (3.1 MB) Year: 2011
Editor: NCA Salinas de Torrevieja S.A. No of
pages: 24 Title: Project's final technical report Year: 2011
No of pages: 41 Top
Project description Environmental issues Beneficiaries Administrative data R e a d m o r e