In a statement issued today, the entities have expressed their “concern” about the problems faced by bars and restaurants in the municipality, as well as the “significant impact” that the cuts will have.
These, they said, “will cause a considerable decrease in the income of local businesses, generating a serious economic damage”. As a result CAEB has offered all of its support to “seek solutions to alleviate the negative effects of drought.
Similarly, they said they understood “the difficult situation” and thanked “the efforts of the local council, which is unable to manage the drought with the current budget. That is why the association is asking the government for urgent aid to mitigate the negative effects of these cuts,” the two organisations insisted.
They also questioned why the funds generated by the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) or eco tax “are not being used to provide economic aid or to finance tankers with desalinated water”. “This is a regrettable situation in the middle of the season, which not only damages the image of the island, but also represents an economic loss for both restaurateurs and residents of the area,” they said.
They also pointed out that the “water crisis” in Banyalbufar began in May and has intensified with the arrival of summer and the increase in the population of the municipality. In the face of the problem, the council has announced intermittent water cuts from July 15, which will leave residents and establishments without drinking water supply between 23.00 and 16.00 hours. “That is, for 17 hours a day, which is a serious damage to the whole community,” lamented CAEB and Ferib.
In addition to these cuts, the containment measures established two months ago are maintained as the restriction of consumption to 75 litres per inhabitant per day and the ban on cleaning terraces, both private and catering establishments, among other measures.
For all these reasons, the entities have made “an urgent appeal” to the administrations to solve this problem “before the losses force establishments to close”, and have conveyed their support “not only to the businesses in Banyalbufar, but also to all those affected by the drought in the Balearics”.
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Though we definitely need water infrastructure improvements, I have to ask those who are imposing restrictions.....what are we supposed to do when we are constantly barraged with 'mud rains'? Patios/terraces, awnings/tarps, pools (or their covers), plants, windows, cars/motos/boats, outdoor furniture, and more get slaughtered with dirt. What are we supposed to do in those situations????
Mallorca should initiate a campaign to encourage the purchase and use of rain barrels to capture rainwater from gutters/canals on homes and buildings. One rainfall can easily fill a 200 liter rain barrel which can then be used for watering vegetation, washing terraces, etc. Also, construction standards should incorporate gray-water (stored water from rainfall) to use in toilets. The opportunities to capture rainfall is sorely wasted here, yet much can be done to mitigate a portion of the problem with simple, low-cost solutions.
This has been coming for a long time, I see the Gorg Blau often, and it is as low as I've ever seen it..
Tawny TweacleI totally agree your comment. I came to Mallorca on January 02 1990. Since that date, I have constantly suggested building Desalination Plants and Farm Irrigation schemes. Plus methods to collect rain water that falls all over the Island. NOTHING HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE 34 YEARS I HAVE LIVED HERE.
Tawny TweacleAgreed. It's not like the island isn't surrounded by water
Banyanbulfar used to have cisterns to irrigate tomatoes. Upgrade those I recollect they were huge.
Tankers!?!? I repeat my earlier view that the hotels should collectively pay for desalination plants in their resorts, with help from the tourist tax and this water will be exclusively theirs. Rural hotels should have to pay a contribution towards building more underground reservoirs. The billiions from tourism that have contributed to this island's economy since the 60's should have been used to upgrade the water infrastructure - end of! Instead there is still raw sewage spewing into the sea and i don't believe anyone drinks the tap water without using some kind of filter to make it safe! Otherwise its down to buying 6 litre plastic bottles of drinking water, which is totally contradictory to the whole eco, climate BS! It truly is the stuff of third world countries! Shameful!