It's that time again - the question of whether Mallorca will make it through the winter with its water reserves hovers over us like a dark cloud, even if it is precisely the clouds that we are sorely missing this year. The two reservoirs are located in the Serra de Tramuntana Cúber and Gorg Blue almost dry. The latest figures show that levels have fallen to below 27 % have fallen. This is worrying when you consider that these reservoirs supply a large part of the island with drinking water. And Palma, with all its inhabitants and many tourists, is particularly affected.
In the fall, nature slowly retreats inland, but there is no rain. "Too little and too late", say the weather forecasts, and they are not exactly optimistic. Even if it starts to rain now, the soil remains thirsty and soaks it all up for the time being - it takes weeks for the reservoirs to benefit. Two of the island's water reservoirsincluding the Pla de Mallorca and Arta, have now been put on drought alert. Garden watering, beach showers and even street cleaning have been restricted, and the rest of the island is on pre-alert.
And why all this? Part of the answer is obvious: year after year, hot summers and mild winters do not bring the necessary rainfall. But it is also no secret that increasing numbers of tourists and the ever-growing population are taking their toll. Experts sounded the alarm years ago, but the situation has not eased. Now, as is so often the case, the focus is on desalination plants - a short-term solution that comes at its own price when you think of the energy requirements. At the same time, the authorities are appealing to each individual to act responsibly when it comes to water consumption.
The water crisis on Mallorca is a reminder of how fragile the balance between man and nature is on our island. And while we wait for the rain, the question remains: can we change our own behavior before nature forces us to?
0 Comments