The water reserves of the Balearic Islands are at 54% in March, four points below February, but slightly above the figure for the same month last year (52%). According to the Ministry of the Water Cycle, the trend is uneven across islands and territories, with general decreases despite a notable episode of rain.

The water reserves of the Balearic Islands stand at 54% in March, four points below February, but slightly above the figure for the same month last year (52%). As reported by the Ministry of the Water Cycle, the trend is uneven across islands and territories, with general decreases despite a significant rainfall event.

"In five years there won't be a single one left dryland almond treeIn the Balearic Islands, according to the head of the Agricultural Service, Andreu Juan, in his appearance before the Parliament's Climate Change Commission on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries this Wednesday, only 7,000 remain, a figure that demonstrates that this crop is currently "in short supply." This tree was traditionally cultivated in the Balearic Islands because it withstood drought, the Mediterranean climate, and did not require high maintenance costs. However, more work and care of the land is needed to obtain results.XylellaA bacterium that clogs the vessels through which sap circulates. This prevents water and nutrients from reaching the leaves, leading to a loss of production and even the death of the tree.

A third of the territory of the Balearic Islands is undergoing desertification. Data fromAtlas of Desertification in Spain Newly published studies confirm that this phenomenon affects approximately 1,600 square kilometers of the archipelago's total surface area. But the first thing experts point out is that "desertification doesn't mean a desert is being created. It's a process of land degradation, resulting from a series of causes, and what is certain is that it occurs wherever there is aridity," explains Enrique Morán, a geographer at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). "Therefore," he insists, "when desertification percentages are presented, we should primarily reflect on the fact that these are territories where the soil has been impoverished and degraded. So, even if there isn't a very large change in terms of vegetation, which is the last to occur, a weakening has already begun, which is not at all positive." Experts consider desertification itself to be a degradation of the land, since as it progresses, ecosystems lose fertility, regenerative capacity, and environmental quality—a process influenced by both climate and human activity. According to recent Atlas of Desertification in SpainUp to 87% of the Balearic territory is considered arid, and therefore susceptible to desertification. Of these arid zones, 33.7% are already degraded, which is equivalent to approximately one-third of the total territory of the Balearic Islands (29.3%), placing the archipelago among the most vulnerable regions in Spain.

Water reserves in the Balearic Islands rose to 48% in November, an increase that has allowed Ibiza to move out of the alert status. In a press release, the Balearic Government's Ministry of the Sea and Water Cycle reported that November ended with an increase in water reserves in the Balearic Islands, reaching 48%, four points higher than the previous month. By island, water reserves rose from 44% to 48% in Mallorca, from 43% to 44% in Menorca, and from 39% to 47% in Ibiza.

The environmental organization Amics de la Terra has publicly denounced the Sant Joan government and city council for allowing the owner of a luxury villa in Sant Llorenç to empty and refill the three swimming pools at his home, amid a drought alert.

A study by the University of Mannheim, conducted by Dr. Sehrish Usman—with two members of the European Central Bank—estimates that the drought will represent a loss of €464 million to the Balearic Islands' economy in 2025. Looking ahead to 2029, the document predicts a loss of €1.195 billion. Per capita, €372 million will be lost this year and €958 million in 2029.

As every summer, the Balearic Islands Government publishes data on water consumption and losses in the island municipalities' water supply networks. This year, these data were released in September, at the same time as the Government itself announced the entry into a drought alert for the island of Ibiza and a large part of the municipalities of the Pla de Mallorca region. The rest of the islands' territories are not entirely spared and have been in a worrying pre-drought alert situation for some time. Only Formentera is in a normal situation, largely because it does not depend on groundwater, given that 100% of urban water consumption and consumption on rural land is supplied with desalinated water. It could be said that without the desalination plant, Formentera would be hydrically dead. Or in other words, it's like having a patient living a normal life without knowing that they are completely dependent on technology and the associated energy dependence, with the risks that this entails.

In 2024, the Balearic Islands consumed a total of 111.3 cubic hectometres of water, or 111.3 billion litres, which represents a staggering increase of more than 4.8% in a single year compared to 2023. But the most worrying aspect is that a 24.4 cubic hectometres of water within a 2024 dam did not reach its destination because it was lost due to the countless cracks and leaks in the distribution system. The data, which has just been published by the Balearic Water Agency, basically conveys two ideas: the situation is improving slightly with a very small reduction in leaks, but the significant increase in consumption year after year means this is not noticeable, and therefore the water demand continues to far exceed available resources.

Sóller City Council has updated its measures for water conservation and responsible use and has also imposed restrictions on tourist establishments. Initially, the regulations only reported restrictions for individuals, but this Thursday they issued an updated decree detailing several measures that directly affect hotels, vacation rental homes, bars, restaurants, and cafes.

Controversy in Sóller over water resource management. During the drought, the town council has decided to indefinitely close the municipal swimming pool due to the town's water problems. However, the "surprise" came when residents discovered that the pool at the La Residencia hotel (in Deià, a municipality just 11 kilometers away) "remains open and without any restrictions or limitations," the residents criticized. In fact, tourist establishments are not directly affected by the water restrictions, and they only ask them to inform guests about responsible water use and recommend that they install water-saving systems.

Water reserves in the Balearic Islands stood at 43% in July, five points below the previous month's record (48%) and three points lower than the percentage recorded a year ago (46%).

Deià City Council will suspend the water supply in some areas of the municipality starting this Monday to address the persistent drought and increased demand, linked to the population increase caused by tourism during the summer months. The measure is temporary and will affect the Puigserver, Cala, and Llucalcari Caves—including the Costa d'Or Hotel—and the scattered areas in the non-urban area along the road to Sóller on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. According to the City Council, the municipality's total weekly consumption is 3,300 cubic meters, 37% of which arrives by truck. The City Council justified this decision by citing the regulations of the municipal water supply and sanitation service and deeply regretted having reached this situation.

The Pla de Mallorca Association has proposed to the government that a drought emergency could be declared on a municipality-by-municipality basis, without affecting the entire Demand Unit (remember, this includes Muro and Santa Margalida). Meanwhile, the government is studying the implementation of new parameters that could be used to declare an emergency in the Pla de Mallorca area soon.

Menorca has started the summer with water reserves at their lowest level in a decade. While they were at 71% of their capacity in June 2015, this year they are barely at 42%. The island has been on pre-alert for drought for two years now, starting in May 2023, yet even today, local councils are resisting significant tariff increases. Only Mahón, which has not been able to supply drinking water to the population for a year, has implemented consumption restrictions.

The Government stated today that it has not "at any time" renounced supporting municipalities with water supply difficulties in the Plan. The Water Plan establishes a direct aid mechanism for municipalities that do not have a connection to the Government's main water network. President of the Plan Association, Joana Maria Pasqual,denounced to ARA Baleares the government's abandonment of these municipalities in Mallorca. The Plan divides the municipalities between those who cannot drink the water they have because it's of poor quality and those who don't have it and must continually use tanker trucks. In fact, last year they spent 800,000 euros. "We only have trucks and promises. Year after year the situation repeats itself, and no public resources have been invested here to help us. We're left feeling abandoned, and I don't want any problems with anyone, but I also don't want to hide the reality we're suffering, that of not knowing how we'll spend the summer," lamented Pasqual, who is calling out the institutions that don't prioritize investment.

The Algaida company Flor de Figa has announced that it is closing the Es Rafalet estate, the property of owner Julià, to tourist visits. The straw that broke the camel's back, perhaps more accurately, is the Balearic Islands government's refusal and obstacles to paying for truckloads of water in the Pla de Mallorca region.

The water in Maó is still not safe to drink a year after the crisis that erupted following the serious breakdown at the Malbúger plant. The latest analyses released by the opposition confirm this. In May, the networks of Malbúger, Turó, Sant Climent, and Grau-Cala Llonga still showed nitrate concentration levels above 50 milligrams per liter, the maximum limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for considering water drinkable.

Water reserves in the Balearic Islands stood at 48% in June, three points below the previous month's figure (51%) and two points lower than the percentage recorded a year ago (50%).