Residents and tourists in Pollensa, a popular holiday hotspot in northern Majorca, are being urged to consume as little water as possible following a breakdown in supplies from the Alcudia desalination plant. A series of restrictions have been introduced until the problem is resolved, all while temperatures sit around 36C today on the island.
To make matters worse, on Monday morning (June 30), it was reported that some areas could be left without water. Those in the region have been banned from filling their swimming pools, watering their gardens and cleaning their vehicles and terraces, with water being reserved for only essential needs. A spokesperson for the local water board said: “We continue to recommend using water only for strictly essential needs. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
The statement added: “We continue to implement all emergency measures to maintain the water supply: activation of the Gotmar and Can Colet wells, which, together with our other wells, are operating 24 hours a day. Despite these efforts, the supply is affected and there may be drops in pressure or temporary service interruptions”.
According to the Water Board, supply cuts will occur in Llenaira, Es Pinaret, Putxet, Gotmar, Can Singala, Urbanización de Bóquer, Air Base and Siller. The cuts are expected to take place between 1pm and 7pm local time (2pm and 8pm BST) on Monday, reported the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
There is growing concern in the region, particularly due to the fact that Pollensa hotels and apartments are nearly at 100% occupancy as the busy tourist season begins.
Pollensa has a high tourist-to-resident ratio, one of the highest in the Balearic Islands. In August, the number of tourists can exceed the number of residents. Specifically, Pollensa has a tourist-to-resident ratio of 24.8 – significantly higher than the Balearic average of 10.25 and more than four times that of Barcelona on the mainland. In August last year alone, the town had just under 59.5k tourists.
The ancient town has been heralded as one of Majorca’s must-see areas. It features attractive narrow streets and an impressive main square lined with cafés, restaurants and bars. All this is just a few miles from Port de Pollenca, a resort particularly popular with Brits for holidays and second homes.
The town has several places of interest to visit, including the still operational Roman bridge, “Pont Roma”, and the Puig de Pollensa, a small mountain topped by a monastery, just outside the town. The Plaça Mayor, dominated by a Parroquial church dating back to the 18th century, is the scene of one of Majorca’s best Sunday markets, attracting many nationalities. The square offers several good cafes where you can enjoy a café con leche and watch the world go by.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
