The water reserves of the Balearic Islands drop to 36% and four zones are on drought alert

PalmaThe water reserves of the Balearic Islands have dropped two points during September and have stood at 36%, compared to the 38% recorded in August. The decrease is explained by the evolution of Mallorca and Ibiza, while Menorca has recovered five points, despite having recorded only 3.4 liters of rain per square meter during the month. Compared to September of last year, the reserves of the archipelago as a whole have decreased by eight points.

By islands, Mallorca has gone from 38% to 36% and Ibiza, from 37% to 33%. Menorca, on the other hand, has increased its reserves from 33% to 38%. This improvement does not necessarily imply that it has rained more, since aquifers also respond to the precipitation accumulated during previous months and the volume of water extracted from them.

September has been dry in the Balearic Islands as a whole, with an average precipitation of 47 litres per square metre, 30% less than the usual 68 litres. The situation has been especially unfavourable in the Pityusic Islands: Ibiza has recorded 10 litres per square metre, compared to the usual 76, and Formentera has collected 10, in comparison with the average of 44. In Mallorca, 55 litres have accumulated, compared to the usual 65, while Menorca has remained well below average, with only 3.4 litres.

Hydrological drought

Regarding the hydrological drought, four demand units are in an alert situation: Artà, es Pla, Manacor-Felanitx and Migjorn. The global drought index has remained stable with respect to August, with a value of 0.342, slightly higher than it was a year ago, when it was 0.337.

In addition to the four units on alert, six are in pre-alert: Menorca, Migjorn, Palma-Alcúdia, Tramuntana Nord, Tramuntana Sud and Eivissa. Formentera is the only demand unit in a situation of normality. Despite the recovery of reserves in Menorca, the island remains in pre-alert.

Looking ahead to the month of October, the Ministry foresees a slight increase in water reserves across the Balearic Islands.