Emaya’s preferential hotel water tariff criticised as outdated

Emaya, the municipal water company of Palma, applies a preferential tariff that keeps hotel water rates low. The system splits a hotel’s consumption into units of two places, so a 240‑bed hotel is billed as if it had only 120 meters, keeping most of its usage in the cheapest block of €0.60 per cubic metre. Critics say the method “is an example of the tariff obsolescence of the municipal company,” according to Juan Calvo of the Alliance for Water. Whistle‑blower Miquel calculated that the same volume would cost €21,225.60 under the domestic progressive tariff, but the hotel pays only €2,356 under Emaya’s scheme. The Palma city council has declined to comment on the criticism.