The small municipality of Estellencs in the southwest of Mallorca is facing a serious water shortage, reports isla Magazine. Faced with a prolonged dry spell and a significant drop in groundwater levels, the local government has taken drastic measures to reduce water consumption. Mayor Bernat Isern made it clear that water supplies are already critical, even though the summer has not even started yet.
With immediate effect, activities such as filling up swimming pools, watering gardens and lawns and washing cars are strictly prohibited in Estellencs. These restrictions come into force at a time when the island's water reservoirs are normally beginning to recover from the peak tourist season. Instead, the levels of the village's main water source, s'Ull de s'Aigo, are showing worrying lows.
The municipality has also issued an ordinance limiting daily water consumption per person to 245 liters. Compared to previous years, when restrictions only began in August, this marks a significant tightening of the situation. In addition, the wet cleaning of terraces and the operation of artificial fountains, which contribute to the aesthetics of the home and garden, are no longer permitted.
Violations of these orders could result in severe penalties, the exact form of which has not yet been determined, but could extend to drastic cuts in the water supply. If the drought continues, the next step could be to restrict the water supply for agricultural businesses, which would have far-reaching consequences for the local agricultural economy.
These urgent measures reflect the increasing challenges that Mallorca and other regions in the Mediterranean are facing as a result of climate change and rising tourist numbers.
Map graphic, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link from Chubby
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