Some wells in Majorca are now completely full

There is water, water everywhere and there is going to be plenty to drink next summer, providing we, the consumers, do not revert to our frivolous ways. Majorca's reservoirs are nearly over flowing, but probably more importantly, the levels of water in Majorca and Minorca's wells has risen by as much as 40 per cent over the past three weeks. Balearic Minister for the Environment, Margalida Rossello, confirmed yesterday that this month's storms have driven the water level in the wells up by between 17 and 40 per cent. She said that the government is drawing up a plan to help increase the water level further and, if successful, there should be little or no concerns about a drought and a lack of water in the region next summer. However, the Minister was quick to stress yesterday that the general public has a vital role to play and must continue consuming water sensibly and trying to save as much as possible. On the whole, over the past 18 months, the majority of households have been successful in reducing the level of water consumption. Rossello said yesterday “the rains have had a very positive effect for the wells and the reservoirs.” “But now it is more important than ever to ensure that our water reserves are carefully managed and looked after,” she added. The Minister believes that the maximum use should still be made of the island's desalination plants in order to give the wells and reservoirs more time to recover. Rossello would prefer that water in the two main reservoirs, Cuber and Gorg Blau, currently 71 per cent full, was not touched until the summer. The Balearics desalination plants have a maximum capacity to produce 100.000 cubic metres of water per day, but they are only pumping around 30.000 cubic metres per day in to the water network at the moment. Director General for Water Resources, Antoni Rodríguez, explained that Majorca's wells have shown the biggest recovery. For example, the Fonts Ufanes wells which were holding just two per cent capacity in September, are now 100 per cent full. While others are now 50 to 60 per cent full, Rodríguez said that over the next few weeks, the water levels can still rise to around 80 per cent with further rain forecast although the Balearic water table no longer needs a week of torrential rain. Rodríguez said that there is however, no quick fix to the region's water problems. In 1996 a Water Plan was drawn up around a time frame of the water level in the wells recuperating over a period of ten years.