Esporles Town Council approved a municipal decree on Friday that establishes a total ban on the use of drinking water from the municipal network in several cases, including irrigation, swimming pools and private cleaning, in response to ‘the exceptional situation of lack of rain’ and increased water consumption affecting the municipality.
Since April, the council has been running public awareness campaigns on the need to reduce consumption, but ‘in recent days, reserves at collection points have decreased,’ according to a council press release.
Among the uses that will be affected are the watering of gardens, orchards, trees and private green and sports areas (except when using treated water); cleaning private roads, terraces, patios or similar areas, except with treated water; filling or renewing private swimming pools; and any other ornamental, leisure or recreational use of water.
These restrictions, which until now were only in force in the Rotgetes and Jardín de Flores residential areas, now affect the entire municipality. The Town Council has warned that these measures will remain in force ‘until further notice’ and may be extended ‘depending on the evolution of water reserves, with temporary supply cuts being established if necessary’.
The Council has also reminded residents that failure to comply with these restrictions is regulated by the Municipal Water Supply Regulations. In addition, it has called on residents to cooperate in ‘preserving an essential resource and guaranteeing basic supply for all’.