NO DROUGHT FEARS

By Humphrey Carter WHATEVER the weather this summer, the Balearics' water resources are sufficient to protect the region from a drought. Coinciding with the first drops of rain for weeks, a spokesperson for the Balearic Environment Ministry announced yesterday that the latest inspections have shown that the region is not in any danger of being struck by a drought so no water restrictions this summer. Natural water resources are sufficiently high and, coupled with the support of the region's water desalination plants, the experts see no threat. Ibiza is holding the most water. The island's natural water reserves are up to 92 percent, 30 percent higher than this time last year. Minorca's water reserves are at around 57 percent and Majorca's 55 percent. These figures may appear relatively low but Minorca's reserves are up by three percent on last year and Majorca, one percent to reach their highest levels for the past decade. In 2001, the last year the region was gripped by a severe drought, Easter water reserves were as low as 30 percent. By the end of the summer season in September, they had fallen drastically to just 15 percent. Here in Majorca, the wells holding the most water are in Na Burguesa where it is 88 percent full and in Manacor where the latest inspections have shown that the water level is at 84 percent. At the start of last month, the Balearics' two main reservoirs, Gorg Blau and Cúber, both in Majorca, were 82 percent full holding nearly 10 million cubic metres of water. The heavy rains of January and February served to top both dams up by 485 litres per square metre during the first eight weeks of the year. Apart from the climate, the biggest burden on the region's water resources is tourism and its related activities. But a well managed water policy, a “greener” hotel and service sector and more aware consumers have helped significantly in the drive to save and preserve water.