The Antequera City Council has added a third street cleaning vehicle, using high-pressure hot water, to combat dirt in narrow streets. The investment amounts to €72,000.
The municipal company Aguas del Torcal has put a new street cleaning machine into service in Antequera, the third in its fleet, with the aim of intensifying street cleaning in the historic centre and other hard-to-reach areas. The vehicle, which has involved an investment of €72,000, is equipped with a 1,500-litre tank and a high-pressure hot water system that reaches 200 bars, capable of removing tough residues such as chewing gum, grease, or urine stains.
The new acquisition responds to the need to keep the municipality's streets in optimal condition, especially during the summer months when the lack of rain concentrates dirt. The Mayor of Antequera, Manuel Barón, has highlighted that this reinforcement will allow more frequent action in areas where large trucks cannot access, such as corners, alleys, and narrow streets in the historic centre.
A fleet of three vehicles for daily cleaning
With this addition, Antequera's street cleaning fleet now consists of two lightweight high-pressure units and a truck for major avenues. The daily team, made up of between six and eight workers, allows for action in an average of twelve to fifteen streets each day, according to the City Council.
The new vehicle, which is compact in size, is specifically designed to manoeuvre in tight spaces, making it a key tool for maintaining the historic centre. Residents in the area will notice an improvement in the cleanliness of sidewalks and pavements, especially in the busiest areas with a higher concentration of hospitality establishments.
The municipal ordinance targets pet urine
During the presentation of the machinery, Mayor Manuel Barón pointed out that dog urination is one of the main sources of dirt on the pavement. To tackle this issue, the City Council is working on a future municipal ordinance that will require pet owners to carry water to dilute urine immediately in public spaces. The measure, still in the drafting phase, aims to complement cleaning efforts and promote more responsible civic coexistence.
“Cleaning our streets is a priority, and with this new machine, we improve our response capacity in the most complicated areas,” the mayor stated.
The ordinance will also include penalties for those who fail to comply with the obligation to pick up waste or dilute urine, although the City Council has not yet specified the amounts or approval timeline. The final text is expected to be made public in the coming months.
Residents of Antequera who stroll through the centre have already begun to notice the effects of the new cleaning. The machine, white and bearing the Aguas del Torcal logo, travels every morning through the most emblematic streets, such as Infante Don Fernando or the Plaza de San Sebastián, leaving the pavement free of stains and unpleasant odours. The service operates from Monday to Saturday, from 7:00 to 15:00, and will be intensified during local festivals and summer weekends.
With this investment, Antequera is at the forefront of street cleaning in the region, ahead of other municipalities in the province that still lack similar means for their historic centres. The difference is palpable: while in neighbouring towns narrow streets accumulate dirt for days, here daily cleaning maintains a level of hygiene that residents appreciate positively.
For next year, the City Council plans to allocate additional funds for the renewal of bins and the installation of litter bins with ashtrays in areas with higher tourist traffic. The combination of machinery, ordinances, and citizen awareness aims to make Antequera a benchmark for urban cleanliness in the interior of the province.
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