Water scarcity and management in Es Mercadal

In Es Mercadal, local officials initiated a review of water extraction rights following concerns over the activities of the concessionaire Castellosa. Mayor Joan Palliser requested an audit of extraction volumes and usage rights, specifically questioning whether the company is permitted to sell water collected from local wells to other municipalities. This request was prompted by reports that Veolia, the water management company for Maó, had been purchasing water via tanker trucks from Castellosa, amid concerns that the Sa Roca-Alabaida groundwater mass was at only 27 percent capacity.

As the water scarcity situation persisted, with the Sa Roca aquifer reaching a low of 26 percent capacity in July, the municipality approved a Sustainable Water Management and Drought Emergency Plan. This plan focuses on reducing leaks, decreasing consumption, promoting water reuse, and upgrading infrastructure. To support these measures, a new water ordinance is being developed to address the gap between current consumption levels and the targets set by the Balearic Hydrological Plan.