Environment

Montuiri chemical spill causes alarm

Scene of the spill.

Majorca Daily Bulletin reporterMontuiri01/08/2019 11:55

There was a spill of chemical products in Montuiri yesterday that came from the old Espumadora Balear plastics and rubber factory. It created a large blue puddle in the street.
With residents alarmed by its appearance, local police, fire crews and officers from the Guardia Civil Seprona environmental protection division all went to the scene. Work continued until midnight to control the spill.

Mayor Joan Verger says that despite its appearance, there isn’t a risk to the public; the Seprona officers had assured him of this.

Nevertheless, there is concern that the spill has affected wells and the water supply. Residents say they don’t know if there has been contamination and whether they can continue to consume water from the wells. The mayor adds that he has been in contact with the local water company, Hidrobal, and the government’s Abaqua water agency to find out if there has been any effect. Analyses will take a while, but in the meantime the mayor has given out a message to allay fears.

The spill occurred the day before the deadline that the town hall had given the owners of the factory to clear it of chemicals. The factory closed ten years ago, and the town hall has made repeated requests for the chemicals to be removed.