Soller Town Hall has introduced restrictions on the use of water until further notice. This is the first time the town hall has gone as far as imposing restrictions since 2000. Although the Soller area, like most of Mallorca, is on pre-alert for drought rather than drought alert, there are concerns about supplies.
As yet, there are no cuts to supplies, the town hall preferring to refer to "water-saving measures" as opposed to restrictions. These measures amount to restrictions in that they include a ban on the use of water from the mains for the refilling of pools, for watering gardens and other green areas, for the cleaning of vehicles, boats and terraces.
Immediately after town hall decreed the measures, the Son Angelats municipal sports centre announced the closure of its two swimming pools.
Beach showers have been turned off, and for now there won't be water cleaning of streets. "Recommendations" have been issued for the tourism sector, such as installing water-saving systems and informing customers of the situation.
The Pla (Plain) region is the one part of Mallorca currently on drought alert, the level below emergency. The giant reservoirs in the Tramuntana Mountains, Cúber and Gorg Blau, which mainly supply Palma, are at present around 30%, the reserves having decreased by some eight per cent over the past month.
Deia, one of Soller's neighbouring municipalities, announced water cuts at the start of August.