The Government of the Balearic Islands signs an action protocol with the town councils of Ibiza and the Consell to protect and improve the management of aquifers from the island of Ibiza.
The Government, through the Department of the Sea and the Water Cycle, has signed an action protocol with the Ibiza Island Council and the five town councils of the island with the aim of protecting and recovering the aquifers affected by overexploitation, saline intrusion and prolonged lack of rain. This agreement represents a firm step towards ensure sustainable water management on the islandan indispensable resource for the development and balance of the territory.
Protecting the aquifers of Ibiza (Eivissa)
Minister Juan Manuel Lafuente has highlighted that this protocol is “an example of institutional cooperation to effectively address the delicate situation of the Ibiza aquifers.” Lafuente recalled that underground resources are in a critical situation due to the overexploitation and prolonged lack of rain and has stressed that protecting them is not only an environmental necessity, but also “a commitment to the primary sector and to the rural communities that depend on this resource for their survival.”
Among the main measures included in the protocol, the minister has highlighted the progressive replacement of groundwater extractions with desalinated water, especially in the winter months, when desalination plants on the island have sufficient capacity to meet demand. This measure will relieve pressure on aquifers and conserve groundwater as a strategic reserve for episodes of severe drought or specific peaks in consumption.
The Minister of the Sea and the Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente, has been in charge of formalize this commitment in an event held at the headquarters of the Insular Council. The president of the Council, Vicent Marí, the mayor of Ibiza, Rafael Triguero, the mayor of Sant Josep de sa Talaia, Vicent Roig, the mayor of Sant Antoni de Portmany, Marcos Serra, the mayoress of Sant Joan de Labritja, Tania Marí, and the deputy mayor of Santa Eulària des Riu, Miguel Tur, representing the mayor Carmen Ferrer.
The general director of Water Resources, Joan Calafat, and the manager of ABAQUA, Emeterio Moles, were also present at the event, underlining the technical and administrative involvement of the Government in carrying out the agreed actions.
The agreement also includes the promotion of the use of regenerated water in agricultural, urban and environmental areasa key measure to promote efficiency and reduce dependence on underground reserves of agua. In addition, control and monitoring systems will be established to guarantee compliance with the measures and continuously evaluate the state of the aquifers.
The minister has called for the shared responsibility of all signatory administrations, pointing out that collaboration is essential to achieve tangible results: “This protocol lays the foundations for a new water management in Ibizain which desalinated and regenerated water will play a key role, especially in a context marked by scarcity and the need to take advantage of every available resource.”
The role of each administration
The protocol establishes commitments for each administration, with the objective of ensure the correct implementation of the measures. This protocol will have an initial validity of three years, automatically renewable for equal periods, unless one of the parties expresses their willingness to terminate it with six months’ notice.
With the signing of this protocol, the Government, the Consell and the town councils of Ibiza reinforce their commitment to the protection and recovery of aquifersguaranteeing coordinated and efficient water management at a time when the island faces unprecedented challenges due to the effects of climate change and pressure on natural resources.
Among the main measures is the substitution of groundwater extractions by desalination in the winter months, which is when the desalination plants have sufficient capacity to cover the demand of the population of Ibiza without difficulties.