Water alert in Campos and Ses Salines: it is not drinkable due to excess sodium
The town councils recommend not drinking it nor using it for cooking, although it can be used for hygiene and cleaning
PalmaThe city councils of Campos and Ses Salines have alerted the population that the water from their public networks is not suitable for human consumption due to the high levels of sodium it contains. The councils have recommended not using it for drinking or cooking, although it can still be used for personal hygiene and household cleaning.
In Campos, the City Council has informed through a municipal notice that the sodium concentration has exceeded the permitted values. This situation causes the water to have a "slightly salty" taste and, for this reason, its consumption and use for cooking are discouraged.
On the other hand, the water can continue to be used for personal hygiene and domestic tasks. The council and the Mancomunitat del Migjorn will inform the population when the sodium levels have returned to within the permitted parameters and the water regains its status as fit for consumption.
The Campos City Council has also asked residents to exercise extreme caution and make responsible use of the water. In this regard, it reminds that it is prohibited to use the municipal network to fill swimming pools or water orchards and gardens.
Ses Salines attributes the situation to the drought and the increase in demand
In Ses Salines, the City Council has explained that the sodium levels in the public water supply have exceeded the maximums established by current legislation. The council links this situation to the drought and the increase in water demand during the summer months.
For this reason, it has also recommended that the population not drink tap water or use it for cooking. It can be used for personal hygiene and for cleaning kitchen utensils and the home.
The council trusts that the situation will normalize with the arrival of the rains and the reduction in demand once the summer season is over. According to the City Council, these factors should allow sodium levels to gradually decrease until the water is once again suitable for consumption. When this happens, citizens will be informed.
More water restrictions this summer
The situation in Campos and Ses Salines adds to the water restrictions and saving measures that several municipalities in the Balearic Islands have had to implement this summer in the face of pressure on water resources.
One of the most recent cases has been that of Manacor, which at the end of August decreed measures to reduce water consumption and prevent the state of available resources, especially aquifers, from continuing to worsen.
The situation highlights the pressure that drought and increased demand exert on the islands' water reserves, especially during the months of highest consumption.