76 per cent of the municipalities have presented actions to improve the networks and solve the leaks
The Consell de Mallorca has given the definitive green light to the awarding of a total of 74 projects presented by the island’s town councils and associations of municipalities as part of the call for subsidies under the Water Pact agreement, signed between the government and the island’s institution, which has a global contribution of 19.1 million euros and will improve water supply in the municipalities.
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The Consell de Mallorca gives the green light to 74 projects of town councils and associations of municipalities for an amount of 19.1 million to improve the efficiency of the water cycle
The president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, and the councillor of Economic Promotion and Local Development, Pilar Amate, presented the awarded actions at a press conference, which are aimed at carrying out specific projects for the efficiency and use of water resources.
The president of the Consell de Mallorca emphasised ‘the willingness of the island’s government to help town councils to alleviate the water shortage problem faced by some of the island’s municipalities and the need to improve existing infrastructures to prevent water loss’. This line of aid explained Galmés, responds to ‘our commitment to being at the side of the councils and we are aware that, at this time, it is a priority for everyone to improve the efficiency of the water cycle’.
‘Never before has the Consell approved a call for aid for the water cycle, and it is planned that each year we can allocate more resources to a cross-cutting problem that requires the involvement of all administrations. In fact, we have already set aside another 5 million euros for the water cycle in the 2025 budget,’ added the president in this regard.
For her part, the councillor, Pilar Amate, explained that ‘many mayors had told me of the need for economic support so that they can improve the supply networks in their municipalities, and we have responded to this request so that they can improve their supply networks’.
Types of actions
A total of 74 projects have been presented, which can be summarised as follows, by type of action: 44 requests to prevent leaks and improve the water network and 14 requests for network sectorisation and remote meter reading.
Specifically, of the 52 town councils on the island that have submitted projects, a total of 40 municipalities will use the financial contributions granted to improve municipal networks, which represents 76% of the proposals financed by the Consell de Mallorca.
Among the 74 projects presented, there are 9 applications for the creation of new water tanks or renovation of existing ones, as in the case of the municipalities of Algaida, Calvià, Costitx, Estellencs, Llubí, Porreres, Santa Eugènia, Santanyí and Vilafranca de Bonany.
In addition, 5 projects have been presented for water collection and reserve wells, corresponding to the town councils of Binissalem, Esporles, Montuïri, Porreres and Santa Eugènia; 1 application for the installation of a water pump and control system in the well of Can Arabí (Binissalem) and 1 project for the installation of a water treatment system for the wells of sa Cova for the water supply of Campanet.
For its part, the Mancomunitat des Migjorn has presented a project for the rehabilitation of reservoirs, which will receive a subsidy of 190,165 euros.
Distribution of subsidies
Thus, each municipality has been able to present a maximum of two actions, depending on the amount allocated based on a proportional distribution of the subsidy based on three criteria: surface area, population and population centres. Thus, the amount granted ranges from a maximum of 887,069 euros to a minimum of 169,000 euros.
Projects to be initiated and executed between 28 March 2023 and 28 March 2028 are eligible for funding, and a technical and legal report is required to determine that the projects presented are eligible for funding under the resolution of the Strategic Tourism Agency of the Balearic Islands (AETIB).
Among the criteria of this call for proposals, modifications to actions and the extension of deadlines are permitted, provided that they are adequately justified, and, from the time of the award, they will have one year to award the projects.
This initiative is part of the Pact for Water agreement, signed between the Department of the Sea and Water Cycle and the Consell de Mallorca, and has made it possible to open a specific line of direct aid to the island’s municipalities to carry out specific projects to reduce the waste of drinking water.