Algaida still crippled by water crisis

Central government yesterday approved as law the national drought emergency plan with a budget of 2'756 million pesetas. The emergency plan includes a series of urgent measures which are to be introduced to help the country's farming communities, especially in the Balearics which is the only area of Spain still suffering from the drought. But, while the agricultural sector can now rest easy knowing that financial aid and assistance is in the pipeline, the general public in Majorca are still suffering the effects of the lack of water. While the mobile desalination units are coming into operation in Palma, Calvia and Andratx, it appears that other areas of the island are still crippled by the water shortage. Yesterday the Bulletin learnt that in Algiada, since March, some houses have only been provided with water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays between 10am and 6pm. But one British resident said yesterday that this Sunday there was no water and that when the supply does come on it is usually only on from 2pm to 4pm, and the water comes out of the tap like “gazpacho.” What is more it appears that where he lives, there was no water at all for two months while the private water company which administers water to the area drilled a new well. “But the water level in the well has got so low, it's pulling up the mud at the bottom.