A Subterranean River of Sewage Emerges After Pipe Burst in Alicante Municipality

The rupture of a section of the sewage pipeline on San Bartolomé Street in El Campello has caused the road to collapse, necessitating its closure. Municipal technicians assessed the severity of the damage and deemed it "absolutely necessary" to carry out emergency works to prevent sewage spills onto public roads, protect the environment, and safeguard public health. The works, already commissioned, began this Monday with an estimated completion time of 10 days.

The sinkhole is located over the section of the sewage collector that channels wastewater from the Almadrava pumping station, directing it by gravity to the Gallo Rojo pumping station. Through the hole in the pavement, it was confirmed that the concrete sewage pipe has completely disintegrated, leaving nothing in its place. Wastewater flows through this void like a subterranean river, eroding the ground and creating a cavity beneath the road, posing a risk of road collapse.

Technicians assert that the rupture was leaking sewage into the subsoil. Without swift action, spills could occur on public roads.

The contracted works involve demolishing the pavement over the affected section of the collector, excavating and removing material to fully expose the sewage pipe between both manholes, replacing the damaged concrete pipe with a new PVC one, replacing one of the manholes if necessary, backfilling the trench with sand around the pipe and up to 10 centimetres above, backfilling the trench with excavation material or selected material, laying a 15-centimetre thick mass concrete layer, and finally sealing the work with a layer of asphalt.