The Balearic health ministry has opened penalty proceedings against Sa Pobla Town Hall for failures in the control and recording of drinking water analyses and for also failing to warn the public that water was unfit for human consumption. The period these proceedings relate to are from October 2024 to May 2025.
A health ministry inspection at the end of October 2024 detected nitrate levels in Sa Pobla's water that exceeded 50 milligrams per litre, rendering it unfit for human consumption. The ministry notified the town hall of this situation and issued a reminder of the obligation to inform the public about the risks of drinking water. The town hall failed to do this until May 2025. It points out that "since December, the municipality's water has been suitable for human consumption and meets the established health criteria".
The ministry also found that the town hall had failed to upload water analysis data to the National Drinking Water Information System for several months and that records prior to 2024 were missing. Over the October to May period, the town hall notified the ministry of issues related to the water network but did not give specific details.
The town hall has issued a statement explaining that it is analysing the penalty proceedings document and the forwarding of submissions "within the legally established timeframe".
Mayor Biel Ferragut says: "The commitment to water quality remains, and maintenance and improvement work will be sustained over time by our services. We now know that the efforts must be greater, encompassing everything from repairing leaks and maintaining the plant to constant monitoring."
The Partido Popular opposition at the town hall is demanding "absolute transparency". Spokesperson Pedrona Seguí stresses that "the public has the right to know all the details". "We are talking about public health; this is not a minor issue or a simple administrative disagreement. It is a very serious matter that directly affects the public's trust in their town hall."