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Altea City Council wins the legal battle for water in Altea Hills and Mascarat

The Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community supports the Council in the face of Apobersa's multi-million claim.

The Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community has closed a long conflict between the Altea City Council and the company Aguas Potables de Bernia SL -APOBERSA-, annulling the first instance ruling that forced the City Council to pay more than ten million euros to the company for the withdrawal of water service in the Altea Hills and Mascarat urbanisations. This was announced by the councillor for Infrastructure and Water Cycle, Aurora Serrat.

Serrat recalled that it all began in 2020, when the Municipal Assembly decided to intervene and directly assume water management in these areas, given the continuous complaints from residents about cuts, lack of potability and a network in critical condition. To which he added, "the pipes were showing serious losses and the investment by the company was non-existent. The City Council, forced to react to this unsustainable situation, chose to terminate the relationship with APOBERSA, a company inheriting the old supply rights of the promoter Puerto Deportivo Luis Campomanes SA, and take over the service.

"The decision soon led to a legal confrontation. APOBERSA, represented by businessman Luis Campomanes, claimed more than ten million euros for alleged rights and infrastructures. Initially, the Alicante Contentious Court ruled in its favor. However, the Valencian High Court has now revoked this ruling, endorsing the City Council's actions and considering that there is no right to compensation, beyond the residual value of some meters amounting to 15,000 euros." The councilor explained, pointing out that "in the meantime, the Council has had to assume the management of improvements of more than 3.5 million euros to guarantee supply. Investments that, paradoxically, have been contested by APOBERSA itself and some residents of Altea Hills."

In Serrat's words, "despite the Opposition, the Government team will continue working to restore decent basic services to private development projects, not only in Altea Hills and Mascarat, but also in other areas of the Serra."

“The conflict, which has lasted for years, puts on the table an increasingly common reality: the role of public administrations as guarantors of essential services where private concessionaires do not fulfill their responsibilities,” concluded Aurora Serrat.