The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Livestock, and Fishing is going to allocate 2.5 million euros for the reconstruction and reinforcement of the banks of the Picassent ravine (Valencia), an area where the torrential rains of October 2024 caused severe damage to the slopes and put at risk the stability of several urbanized areas located next to the riverbed.
The Minister of Agriculture, Water, Livestock, and Fishing, Miguel Barrachina, has supervised the works being carried out in the vicinity of the municipal sports center, with a planned budget of 970,505 euros, to check on-site the progress of work aimed at consolidating the slope and safeguarding the infrastructures located over the ravine, including Buenavista street, the sidewalks, the bike lane, and the sewage networks, as detailed by the Generalitat in a statement.
Barrachina explained that it is "an urban area where the water took away part of the land that supports a street, a sidewalk, and services that the neighbors use every day." The purpose of this work, he specified, "is to recover the stability of that land and reduce the risk of new damage."
The minister insisted on the preventive nature of these actions. He emphasized that "when a ravine loses part of its banks, the damage can extend to the streets, facilities, and nearby buildings. That is why it is necessary to repair the affected land and improve the safety conditions of its entire environment."
Works adapted to the geology of the ravine
The project includes the execution of a stone wall to contain the slope and restore the stability of the damaged bank, maintaining the hydraulic section of the ravine in order not to diminish its drainage capacity during episodes of heavy rains.
During the work, it was detected that it was advisable to extend the wall from the vicinity of the sports center to the passage of the CV-4153, where sections with weakened land had also been identified. This extension has required adapting the technical solution to the different existing facilities in the area, especially to a gas pipeline located on the slope itself.
To preserve this pipeline, a reinforced concrete structure is being raised that allows for containing the earth without transmitting loads to the pipe and ensuring that it remains in its original position. The intervention is completed with the cleaning of the channel, the removal of materials dragged by the flood, and the conditioning of the banks.
Barrachina has pointed out that "the characteristics of each section require studying different solutions." "In Picassent, it has been necessary to adapt the work to protect a gas pipeline and ensure the stability of the ground without harming the hydraulic functioning of the ravine," he highlighted.
At the same time, the repair of the banks at the height of the industrial estate of Picassent is being carried out, with a budget of 1.5 million euros, which adds to the action next to the sports center.
Institutional coordination in the channels
The councilor has reminded that the ravine of Picassent is integrated into the jurisdiction of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ), an agency dependent on the Government of Spain, and has specified that the repair works promoted by the Generalitat require the corresponding authorizations from the basin agency.
Barrachina has called for strengthening collaboration between administrations to accelerate interventions in the channels and avoid delays in the restoration of damaged infrastructures. He has argued that "when there are streets, facilities, and public services affected, we need all administrations to work in a coordinated manner to facilitate the works and guarantee the safety of the neighbors."
Emergency plan in the channels of l'Horta Sud
The actions in Picassent are framed within the emergency program to repair the urban channels affected by the floods of October 2024, which includes interventions in different municipalities of l'Horta Sud.
In this region, nine projects have been planned with a total investment of over 25 million euros, distributed among Picassent, Alcàsser, Beniparrell, and Torrent.
Barrachina has explained that these works respond to the needs detected in the channels damaged by the floods and allow action at points where soil erosion may endanger nearby infrastructures and services.
The councilor has concluded that "protection against flooding requires knowing each watercourse well, repairing the damages, and maintaining the infrastructures in adequate conditions. These are necessary actions to reduce risks and protect people."