Meeting Summary with Estepona Water Treatment Plant – January 10, 2025

Last Friday, representatives from our group met with the CEO and lead technicians at the Estepona Water Treatment Plant in Cancelada to address the ongoing issue of odours. While the meeting provided an opportunity to hear their proposals, their responses left many outstanding questions and issues.
Acosol reiterated their commitment to resolving the problem, evidencing their willingness to have two meetings since our first communication on December 19, at the Acosol headquarters on December 30 and this one at the plant.
Attendees For
Acosol – including Matilde Mancha
Estepona Citizen’s Action Group – Aaron Gershfield, Alvaro Barigon, Cristobal Montes
IKOS – including Savvas Sidiropoulos “Senior General Manager”
Agrojardin – Antonio Bazán, Victor Bazán

Key Outcomes of the Meeting:

1. Acknowledgement of the Issue
    The plant’s management admitted to the problem and expressed their intention to address it. They confirmed that they now have approval for the works but could not disclose the budget until after the tender responses.
    Acosol offered clarification on the deodorization system, noting that it is undersized and treating a higher concentration of odours than expected in its original design. Acosol confirmed their commitment to improving odour reduction beyond merely meeting legal thresholds.
2. Tender Announcement
    Management committed to publishing a tender by February 15, aiming to complete the works before summer. However, they could not share details about the proposed works.
    Acosol elaborated on the expected deadlines, stating that the preparation of specifications, bidding, contracting, and execution is estimated to be completed by July. They also provided a broad brush overview into the proposed technology, including ozone injection, which has been proven effective in a pilot test conducted in Fuengirola.
3. Budget and Expertise
    The plant management argued that public funds could not be used to appoint an independent expert to represent the community’s interests. They stated that the cost of their in-house expert employees already fulfils this need and that Acosol’s technicians are qualified to address public inquiries transparently.
    However, we noted that approximately 26% of residents’ water bills, paid through Hidralia, constitute a levy that funds these works. This is not just “public” money but the public’s money, and we believe residents have every right to demand transparency and effective use of these funds. The involvement of an independent expert funded by the community could provide critical scrutiny and ensure accountability.
4. Effectiveness of Proposed Solutions

 Acosol Management expressed optimism but conceded they cannot guarantee success until the work is completed. Acosol believe that achieving total odour elimination in a wastewater treatment plant is technically challenging. They outlined Acosol’s three-pronged approach: physical, chemical, and biological barriers. They provided a brief overview of some past measures, such as collaborations with
the University of Malaga and specialized monitoring companies, which they believe have yielded partial successes.
 Their claim of an 80% reduction in odours as a satisfactory target falls short of community expectations. We remain concerned that there should be any odours tolerance and believe that this would be considered unacceptable in any modern urban areas.

5. NasApp Engagement
    Acosol committed to engaging with NasApp to understand their procedure for obtaining information.
    We emphasized the importance of this collaboration in providing actionable insights and enhancing accountability.
6. Comprehensive Solutions
    The inadequacy of “half-measures,” such as open windows at the beach satellite units, was pointed out. These windows open onto the Paseo at nose level for passersby, highlighting a lack of seriousness in addressing the issue. Advanced technical solutions were called for.
    Acosol confirmed their commitment to comprehensive upgrades, supported by a new investment plan approved in October. This plan includes extensive deodorization techniques aimed at significantly reducing odours.
7. Community Engagement and Monitoring
    The importance of community collaboration was underscored. Stakeholders were invited to confirm the accuracy of shared information, and the significance of consistent odour logging to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions was highlighted.
    Residents are urged to “SMELLit-LOGit” and to “SIGN, DOWNLOAD, and LOG” occurrences of odours. This consistent logging will allow the community to compare the current situation with future improvements and hold Acosol accountable.
    We stressed the importance of community involvement and consistent monitoring as critical components of the overall strategy.
    Acosol indicated full collaboration in terms of the testing of new solutions and/or technologies for the treatment of odours that can be provided by the market or any specialized company.
   Additional Contributions:
    Odour Regulations: Acosol noted that current legal requirements are met but acknowledged that stricter regulations could encourage better technical solutions.
    Long-Term Commitment: Acosol reiterated their commitment to continuous improvement and transparency in addressing community concerns.
    Timeline Caution: While providing an optimistic timeline, Acosol advised prudence due to potential delays inherent in public tender processes.
   Conclusion:
   This meeting highlights the challenges and the proactive measures promised by Acosol.

While progress is evident, the community’s continued engagement and scrutiny remain essential to ensuring meaningful and lasting solutions. The commitment of residents to actively log, monitor, and demand accountability will be key to achieving and sustaining improvements.