MÁS por Sóller calls for municipal water supply to prevent the municipality from experiencing drought again.

PalmMÁS por Sóller has called for public management of water to prevent the municipality from finding itself in a critical situation like the current one again. "It is time to plan the remunicipalization of the service and prevent us from reaching critical points like the current one in the future," the group stated in a press release.

It should be noted that Sóller had to implement restrictive measures due to the critical drought the municipality was experiencing. Among other measures, the City Council approved regulations ordering the closure of the municipal swimming pool, prohibiting tourist establishments from filling pools with water from the municipal network, prohibiting the irrigation of gardens and green areas, and the cleaning of vehicles and boats.

For all these reasons, the organization expressed concern "because the situation is critical and has serious consequences, especially in the agricultural sector," it noted. "For us, it is a fundamental sector, and we are concerned about the difficulties they will face, the economic impact it will have on these families, and the consequences for the availability of zero-mile products," it continued.

In this regard, they have criticized the municipal government because, in their opinion, they believe it has waited until the tourist season was over to implement the restrictions, which "directly affect residents," they point out. They also criticize the City Council for meeting with hoteliers before meeting with other stakeholders, such as political parties, irrigation unions, and representatives of the agricultural sector. However, they regretted that the Water Roundtable, a body established during the progressive government, has not met again.

11% water savings with the restrictions

Sóller has saved 11% of its water consumption since the restrictions began in early September. According to the City Council's report on Tuesday, water consumption has been reduced by up to 80% in municipal facilities, affecting the closure of the municipal swimming pool, the closure of showers at sports facilities, and the avoidance of watering the soccer field's grass, for example. Regarding the Ports of the Balearic Islands, 50% of water has been saved, and 20% has been saved for large consumers, such as the Sóller hotel industry. All of this has resulted in a reduction in daily consumption, which "has gone from 4,050 cubic meters per day to 3,500," according to City Council data.

Thus, as explained by the Councilor for Government, Carlos Darder, the Les Fontanelles well "has stabilized above the pumping stations, which are 60 meters deep, and the Costera well is stable and contributing 50% of the water." Therefore, Darder gives a positive assessment of the situation while waiting for water resources to recover after today's rain and "whatever tomorrow may bring."