The lack of water in Menorca hits rock bottom

CiutadellaWater reserves have hit rock bottom like never before in Menorca. The island ended June with water reserves at only 34% of its capacity, the same situation as in August last year. The records of the Ministry of the Sea do not recall such a low level in at least the last 10 years.

Beyond the historical series, the drop in the last month has been so pronounced (from 42% to 34%) that it has set off the alarm, even more so when last year — with a situation that was already worrying — reserves in June were up to 8 points higher.

The water shortage in Menorca is evident, especially if we compare it with the data from the other islands, which have reserves at almost half: 47% in Ibiza and 46% in Mallorca, where the lowest record in the last ten years was set in the summer of 2016 with 39%.

This means that, globally, aquifers in the Balearic Islands are now at 45%, only three points below June of last year, when they were at 48%. In fact, 80.4% of the Balearic territory is in a drought pre-alert situation. This is the case for Menorca and the units of Artà, Manacor-Felanitx, Migjorn, Palma-Alcúdia, Tramuntana Nord, and Ibiza. Only in Formentera and the southern sector of Tramuntana is there normality.

According to the Ministry, the lack of rain is the main cause of this situation. The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) has registered an average rainfall of only 0.3 liters per square meter, while the usual is 16.5. Therefore, the water deficit compared to the climatic average has already reached 98%.

June has also been warmer than usual in the Islands. The average temperature has pushed thermometers up to an average of 24.5 degrees, 2.3 above what would be expected. It is the fourth warmest June in the Balearic Islands since 1961.

In this context, the Minister of the Sea, Juan Manuel Lafuente, and the Director General of Water Resources, Joan Calafat, met this Monday with representatives of the Consell de Menorca to assess the severe shortage affecting the island's aquifers and adopt initial solutions. The Ministry promises to maintain "constant monitoring," with "coordination and prudence."

Minister Juan Manuel Lafuete has shown his “concern” and has asked the population for prudence in order to reduce water consumption, although he said that, “according to the regulations, we are not yet in a situation where restrictions need to be applied. It rained a lot in winter, but it has stopped raining for a few months and, at the same time, consumption has increased. So we need to manage this scarce resource reasonably.”

To achieve this, Lafuente has highlighted the different projects that are currently underway, such as the piping and connection of the Ciutadella desalination plant, “in which we have invested more than one million euros”, or the modular desalination plant that is to be installed in the Cala Figuera area of Maó next season. “It is urgent to have infrastructures to reduce pressure and to have enough water for the population of Menorca”, he said.

The president of the Consell, Adolfo Vilafranca, has committed to convening the Water Cycle Monitoring Commission this week to take coordinated measures with all the town councils. “We are coming from eight years where investments have been nil and the island's needs have not been addressed”, said Vilafranca, who contrasted this with the actions that have been taken during this term, such as the connection and expanded use of the Ciutadella desalination plant, the future Llevant desalination plant, and the plans for reusing regenerated water that have been launched by municipalities such as Es Migjorn Gran. “It is not a dramatic situation”, said the president, “but it is enough to take measures”. One will be the launch of an awareness campaign.

Among other initiatives, the Water Monitoring Commission aims to harmonize municipal ordinances in order to penalize excessive consumption, promote efficiency in new constructions, and advance in leak detection and supply optimization.

Although Ciutadella accounts for 37.5% of water consumption in all of Menorca, it is in Maó where the most restrictions have been implemented, even advanced last summer. For example, companies and establishments are prohibited from washing cars on the street and individuals from cleaning their boats and watering their gardens. Cruise ships can no longer recharge water at the port either.

Data from the Menorca Socio-environmental Observatory (Obsam) show that, far from decreasing, both water consumption and distribution through municipal networks are on the rise again on the island. This trend continues and 2025 marked the highest record in Menorca in the last 20 years, 12,925,193 cubic meters, surpassed only by the 13,145,157 recorded in 2006. Urban consumption, which accounts for little more than half (6,894,407 cubic meters), is the highest in 20 years. In municipalities like Es Mercadal, for example, it has grown by 15% in just one year.