Data from Spain's health ministry indicate that five municipalities in Mallorca do not have water supply suitable for human consumption in any of their population centres - Ariany, Costitx, Santanyi, Sineu and Vilafranca.
Four others - Felanitx, Manacor, Santa Margalida and Sencelles - do not have suitable supply for all population centres. As an example, the water in Can Picafort is suitable, but in Santa Margalida itself, it is not. In Manacor, where the town hall is aware of the deficiencies, supply of suitable water is a priority objective for the current administration.
The health ministry monitors water for human consumption for the whole of Spain through an online data analysis system and presents an annual report on the quality of drinking water in Spain. Quality controls measure indicators such as temperature, chemicals, pesticides and radioactive substances. The most frequent issues are related to changes in temperature, changes in microbiological parameters (59.5% of them due to legionella) and changes in different chemical parameters (21.1% correspond to uranium).
This is not the case in Mallorca, where the high presence of nitrates is the main cause of the water not being suitable for human consumption. "The concentration of nitrates in groundwater and surface water is usually low, but chloramination could cause the formation of nitrates in the distribution system if the formation of chloramine is not properly controlled."
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Desalination plants require massive amounts of energy to do their job. It has been known for over 30 years that this is not the way forward. Unless were are going to surround our island with wind turbines to power them - solar is not and never can be sufficient on its’ own - then we need to think outside the box. Would any resident be opposed to, say, demanding that every tourist hotel within 200 mtrs of the coast use sea water in their swimming pools? Or insist on golf courses using 100% grey water? Save water. Reduce demand.
Even if the water is fit for human consumption you might want to check the water containers on the roof of your building (if you live in a flat) as a lot of them are made of asbestos. Is this really safe?
There needs to be a National Campaign to raise revenue for the construction of Desalination plants around Mallorca. This water can have several uses. Maintaining supplies for the increasing Tourism. Irrigation of all agriculture and Almond Orchards Orange and Lemon Orchards and Potato Fields.