Reserves of water are at present 47% of total capacity. There has been a fall of three per cent in these reserves since the middle of May, arousing concerns that the drought alert could be triggered at some point this summer. The low capacity is a reflection of the fact that rainfall so far this year across the Balearics has been 18% less than normal. In addition, last autumn was exceptionally dry. Majorca is the island which has experienced the greatest rainfall deficit: 20% less than usual.
The situation isn't as bad as it might have been, thanks to the supply of desalinated water. This, though, required a good deal of work to activate supply lines at the Alcudia and Andratx plants, the latter of which had never been used before this year. In Palma, additional lines have been established.
Many town halls in Majorca have launched awareness campaigns aimed at responsible water consumption, but only five - Banyalbufar, Binissalem, Estellencs, Selva and Valldemossa - have as yet introduced restrictions.
It is acknowledged that municipalities in the Tramuntana are faced with greater challenges than others. It is for this reason that the El Pi party has proposed that some tourist tax revenue should go towards boosting water supplies in an area of great tourist interest, especially because the mountains are a World Heritage Site.
As reported in the Bulletin on Tuesday, Banyalbufar is having bigger problems than others, and at a press conference with the leader of El Pi, one-time Balearic environment minister Jaume Font, the mayor, Mateu Ferrà, said that the shortage of water conveys a very bad image of the municipality. Ferrà added that 10% of the annual budget has gone on the purchase and transportation of water, with the cost being anything up to ten times more than the average price for a cubic metre of water.
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Perhaps a THIRD DE SALINATION PLANT is needed now?. Perhaps on the east coast area. Yes , they are expensive to construct, and operate. But millions of Tourists come to this Island every year. The lack of rain each Winter could be a common occurrence in the future. So another PLANT must become a future priority. Tourist Tax to assist with costings ?.
I've been coming here for long periods of time since 1983 and this problem has been constant: given the higher numbers of tourists coming now compared to then, you could argue that Mallorca has done well to keep abreast of the problem. I can remember water tankers having to come across from the mainland, now I believe that desalination, although very expensive, (and power hungry), can keep the problem from becoming a crisis. The geography and geology of Mallorca does not lend itself to easy water storage but I firmly believe that not enough effort or publicity is going into conservation of what water there is. I can (and do) shower daily with the shower running for less than one minute. It's easy to stay clean without standing there for ten minutes. I've seen very little evidence of persuasive advertising making this sort of water-saving part of the consciousness of local residents or the hundreds of thousands of tourists. You also have to question the authorities who over the years have planted hundreds of kilometers of the sort of roadside and other vegetation which is unable to survive without constant daily automatic watering via plastic piping, It needs a concerted campaign where the logic is plain and we our behaviour.
Educate the tourists on arrival at the airport. Boat workers etc. The Brits leave the taps running whilst cleaning their teeth for example.
I recall large water tankers being filled from the water in the English Lake District. Then shipped down to Mallorca. Perhaps , this method could be used again ?.
We have had water restrictions in Algaida on rural properties since 7th June.