TOWN HALL WORKS TO IMPROVE NATURAL DRAINAGE NETWORK
Council workers clear and widen gulleys and ravines such as Lluca and Castellans
In anticipation of the arrival of a more unsettled season, the Department of Environment and Services have been working to recover part of the municipality's natural drainage system through the clearing of riverbeds and gulleys as well as the widening of specific waterways such as the Lluca ravine which, after the Gorgos, is considered one of the most dangerous channels in moments of heavy rain and flooding.
In the case of Lluca, vegetation which had been covering the channel has been removed after and the gulley expanded and shaped to promote improved drainage of rainwater. Workers have also been working extensively on the ravine in Castellans which has been practically lost amongst housing development as well as suffering some destruction during the heavy rains of 1999. In addition, work has been carried out on the ravines of Putxol, Cuesta de San Antonio as well as gulleys which drain into the Saladar - the salt march in the south of the municipality - which will contribute to the better drainage in cases of flood.
These jobs have been carried out by municipal brigades under the urgent employment plan for the protection of the environment who have been spending the past two months cleaning the countryside, roads and tracks as well as the gulleys.
Being Prepared
Jávea sits in a region of Spain which is renowned for extraordinary storms and indeed studies at the University of Alicante once concluded that the Comunidad Valenciana is one of the most hazardous places to live in terms of the risk of natural events such as torrential rain and hailstones (both of which have been experienced in Jávea over the past couple of months) as well as earthquakes, very high temperatures and violent thunderstorms. Indeed Jávea holds the record for the most recorded rainfall in 24 hours when 871mm fell in October 1957. And it is estimated that the actual figure could have been a lot more had the rain gauges been able to have been emptied before overflowing. The storm of 1957 was a disaster for the town. Torrents of water crashed off the Montgó and the flat plateau of La Plana, destroying everything in their path and both the town and the port suffered incredible damage. More than two dozen families lost everything and the beach of La Grava disappeared whilst the Gorgos river burst its banks and covered the entire flat plain of La Pla between the town and the hills in the south. Houses were washed away and livelihoods destroyed as harvests were ruined.
The municipality has suffered several major floods since the late 50s but it was exactly half a century later that Jávea suffered major flooding of a magnitude comparable with the disaster of 1957. On October 12th 2007, heavy rainfall inland caused the Gorgos river to break its banks once again, swamping the plain so that, at the height of the disaster, the river was several kilometres wide. Water crashed down the Camí de la Fontana and poured into the Canal de la Fontana, following the natural lie of the land to reach the sea. The force of the water tore boats from their moorings in the canal, forced most of them under the low bridge close to the Parador, and spat them out into the stormy waters of the Arenal bay. Most of them were dumped onto the beach but some disappeared beneath the waves and were never seen again. The Arenal area filled, a natural flood plain that temporarily recovered itself from the development which had grown since the early 60s. Underground car parks filled with water whilst those cars not have been drowned beneath the dirty brown water floated through the shallow lake that had been created. In the port, the Gorgos exploded into the sea with impressive force. Like the Arenal, the bridge was closed as the water crashed over the edges, throwing debris such as bamboo and trees onto the roadway. Both bridges suffered damage and there has existed a weight restriction over the crossing in the port ever since. However, compared to 1957, only 439mm of rain had fallen in Jávea across the whole month of October but heavy rain in the hinterland had filled the otherwise dry gulleys and ravines that fed into the Gorgos and the water had just one way to go: towards the sea at Jávea.
December 2013 - Articles
- Xabia Viva explore town's Civil War Heritage
- Town Hall works quickly to clear Arenal after storm
- Local restaurant Bon Amb awarded prestigious Michelin Star
- Town hall launches customisable payment plan for municipal taxes
- Special briefing organised for residents about NIE obligations
- Maroc Challenge departs Javea 30th November 2013
- A special concert honouring Santa Cecilia
- Budget 2014 proposs to suspend taxes for renovations
- Javea residents vote for 2014 projects
- Javea council approves changes to assist local taxpayers
October 2013 - Articles
- Javea opens new library and community centre in the port
- Javea Town Hall works to improve natural drainage network
- Javea's multicultural conference
- Life in post-war Javea remembered in special exhibition
- Javea's volunteer fire service needs your help
September 2013 - Articles
- Javea´s time bank initiative resumes its activity
- Javea Mayor launches new online presence
- New bus station comes into service this weekend
- Grants offered for self-employment and modernisation of businesses in Javea
- Early signs show improved figures for summer 2013
August 2013 - Articles
- Getting connected - Javea seeks to exploit social networking
- CD Javea absorbs CF Mediterraneo in local fooball re-structure
- Contemporary art fills the streets of the old town once again
- Town Hall and Cruz Roja reach agreement for providing essential support services
- Javea bids it´s traditional farewell to summer through fiesta
July 2013 - Articles
- Summer music festival offers trip through Romanticism
- Cinema on Javea beach summer 2013
- New roundabout for Tosalet moves a step closer
- One of Javea´s iconic windmills restored by town hall
- Vital link between Javea town and port to be returned to two way traffic
June 2013 - Articles
- Lifesaving and beach safety monitoring begins for summer
- Javea's International Festival - offering culture and gastronomy from around the world
- Javea's Central Cinema renovation moves a step closer
- Buses in Javea
- Municipal land sale will raise cash for investment
May 2013 - Articles
- New land registry information point opens in Javea
- AMJASA reports profits of more than 700,000 Euros for 2012
- Javea schoolchildren learn English the fun way
- Three days of nautical entertainment to kick off summer
- Javea counting down the days to Fogueres 2013
April 2013 - Articles
- Town Hall coffers boosted by five million Euro advance
- New promenade officially dedicated to David Ferrer
- Fiesta Programme 2013 - Jesús Nazareno
- Flower crosss and flaming horns honour Jesús Nazareno
- Javea bucks the trend with the highest debt reduction of all municipalities during 2012
March 2013 - Articles
- New Arenal Promade opens
- Discover more Jávea with new Guided Tours for 2013
- Five historic windmills become municipal assets
- New exhibition in Alicante highlights discoveries on Montgó
- Traditional Crafts and Activities return to historic centre
February 2013 - Articles
- Xàbia histórica goes online with new shopping portal
- Javea strengthens its ties with film industry
- Activity centre prepares outdoor courses for youngsters
- Jávea showcases tradition and cuisine at fitur 2013
- Introducing gastroxabia: the mediterranean diet
January 2013 - Articles
- Las Fallas de Valencia - The Spanish Fiesta not to be missed!
- Help Desk offers talks for Foreign Residents
- Javea opens two new public Padel Courts
- Basketball Club stages special 25th Anniversary match
- Fire and Sunshine for San Antonio 2013
December Articles
- Xabia Viva call for greater investment in local heritage
- Fogueres 2013: Representatives elected for Sant Joan Festivities
- Historic Centre announces Christmas Festivities
- Sports achievements recognised in Annual Gala
- Youth Council welcomes eight new members
November Articles
- Xabia Viva organises excursion to Simat Monastery
- Xabia Al Plat opens up local fishing industry
- Work on Javea Bus Station begins
- Traditional artesan market "Art I Nadal al Carrer"
- Paseo Arenal Project - work is underway
October Articles
- Special Dickens event takes place this week in Javea
- Bicycle Day Javea 21st October
- Javea Triathlon
- Photography Competition - prizes of up to 225 euros redeemable in the shops of Javea
- Women Entrepreneurs organise a training day in Javea
September Articles
- The findings at the Migdia Cave are 4683 years old
- New children playground strenghtens the leisure facilities of the Arenal beach in Jávea
- Initiative to bring affordable golf to youngsters in Javea
- Javea undergoes a long-awaited sea change - Javea's Arenal
August Articles
- The weekly open market in Javea extends to the Church Square
- Javea is looking for its singular trees
- English texts on the history of Xàbia that illustrate the Soler Blasco Museum
- Traditions kept alive by Festes del Portitxol
- The Marroc Challenge Rally returns to Javea for the next Winter Edition
July Articles
- Photographic exhibition opens as a preview to the Javea Jazz Festival
- Moors & Christians, July 2012
- The Town Hall of Javea maintains its financial aid to sports clubs and associations
- The Department of Sports organizes water-sports courses for children in Javea
- The Arenal Beach inaugurates new Tourist Information kiosk
- Xàbia Histórica programmes four nights of concerts each week throughout the summer
May & June Articles
- The retail and hospitality sectors of the Port come together under the new trademark Xàbia Port
- Javea's Dept of Environment enlarges the 2nd viewpoint in Les Caletes for better views of Cap Negre
- The Javea Town Hall organizes a workshop to teach job-seeking skills to young people
- The International Festival in Javea to take place 28 to 30 June
- A special booklet captures the magic of Javea's Nit dels Focs
April Articles
- The Department of Education in Javea organises a children's theatre workshop
- The Fiestas in honour of Jesus Nazereno bring running of the bulls, theatre and music to Javea
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A new BMX circuit opens in the area of Pou de Moro in Javea
- Javea outlines the schedule of activities to celebrate its 400th anniversary as an independent Municipality
March Articles
- Nit dels Focs Xàbia - an event of Local Tourist Interest
- Javea Museum hosts an exhibition on the Central Cinema
- The Old Town of Javea to host concerts every Friday during the spring
- Javea Town Hall fixes up a new view point above the Caleta del Port
- Javea Easter market with over 70 artisan stalls
February Articles
- Javea Council sets up a Local Jobs Creation Board
- Historic Centre Celebrates San Sebastian in Style
- Spain´s Foreign Minister makes official visit to Javea
- Culture Department opens registration period for next quarter´s workshops for people over 30s
- Festive leisure activities for Javea children continue
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