The Initial Downpour
One of the peculiarities of the Spanish road system is their lack of top-water drains.
Where in the UK rainwater runs down the edges of the road into drains, in Spain it simply continues to run downhill to the lowest point. This can result in rivers of water streaming down roads and often deep puddles forming where the water has nowhere left to run to.
In our area, the roads down to the sea are relatively steep so water from heavy rain rushes down towards the beaches and can cause much damage along the way or on the beach itself.
Along the front of our Apartment Complex, the road slopes into its midpoint from two directions and a large pool can form which is about 18” deep at its mid-point. The pictures below shows the effect of this, completely flooding a tennis court, the communal area, and the pool.
Our flooded access road and communal areas
(click for full size views)
Our beautiful blue-flag beach can be seen stripped of its sand down to bedrock.
Above you can see how the river of water has washed
the sand into the sea and discoloured the sea-water
Our once-beautiful beach
On La Zenia beach a new river course was driven across.
Bins washed down to the beach by the force of the water