Environment group attacks water plans

THE environmental watchdog GOB yesterday called on the Balearic government to introduce water saving measures and to reuse water instead of relying on the production of desalinated water, claiming that the plants used a lot of electricity and damaged the environment.
The call came after the government announced a 235 million euro cash injection (25 per cent from the European Union) to solve the islands' water problems, with plans including the construction of two new desalination plants in Majorca.
A spokesman for GOB said that it was not necesary to produce more desalinated water to provide good quality water for all the municipalities in the Balearics, adding that apart from the impact on the environment, the financial cost is very high.
He said that there were cheaper measures which had less of an impact on the environment.
They include improving the pipe networks in towns, some of which lose between 20 and 50 per cent because of leaks.
A policy to save water, more awareness raising campaigns, reusing water from sewage farms, and limiting residential and tourist growth are other proposals from GOB in order to avoid desalination.