Friday 27th October 2017
THE PLENARY OF CALVIÀ TOWN HALL INITIALLY APPROVES THE EMERGENCY PLAN OF CALVIÀ IN ANTICIPATION OF DROUGHT
The Emergency Plan of Calvià in anticipation of drought, prepared by technicians of Calvià 2000 within the framework of the Special Action Plan in situations of alert and eventual drought in the Balearic Islands, was initially approved by the Plenary Session of Calvià Town Hall. The purpose of the Plan is to determine the current status of urban supply systems and define the action plans necessary to mitigate the effects of the drought.
Regarding the first objective, Calvià has a direct dependence on external water supply sources, a situation that makes it difficult to provide strategic reserves and complementary contributions that can be managed by the municipality itself.
Consequently, the contribution of water from Abaqua has been considered as a single source of contribution, regardless of whether the source of supply are conventional resources (Llubí-Muro aquifer, sa Costera fountain, s'Estremera, wells) or non-conventional (desalination).
The analysis in the contributions has focused on the own resources coming from groundwater wells located in the Unidad de Demanda H Tramuntana Sud, whose incidence is very partial since it represents approximately 20% of the total volume contributed to the network.
In this context, it should be recalled that Calvià's water supply service is managed by three operators: Hidrobal (60%), Aterca (30%) and Aguas de Peguera (10%).
Regarding the action plans definition, the plan establishes five phases of municipal action to prevent drought: preliminary phase, alert phase, emergency phase 1, emergency phase 2 and emergency phase 3.
The previous one is not considered an emergency phase, but a normal one, although it is essential to manage the water resources according to the Sustainable Water Management Plan, in which the identification of urban supply wells, the revision and regularisation of volume assigned, the control of extractions, levels and billing are carried out and an efficiency programme is developed in the management of distribution services.
In the alert phase, the condition is restricted to the areas of internal responsibility, the institutions and operators of the system, and to actions of a preparatory nature for a possible drought with probability of occurrence in the short term. Some of these measures are the incorporation of the Drought Management Committee, the coordination with other sources of supply, the awareness-raising on water savings, the enhancement of purified water, the analysis of alternative supply facilities, amongst others.
In the emergency phase 1, the probability of critical shortage situations is very significant, and communication measures and exemplary actions will be implemented, such as moderate coercive measures, public use restrictions of low importance, etc.
In the emergency phase 2, there is a high probability of very critical situations due to shortages, therefore use restrictions will be established to reduce consumption in all economic and social sectors, although with different scope in each case (public use restrictions of high transcendence, pressure drops by time slots, night cuts, etc.).
The emergency phase 3 is already a very serious situation with a high probability of widespread shortages, with serious social and economic impact. In this phase, a crisis committee will be set up, derived from the Drought Committee, and rationing volumes will be set and enforced to ensure basic needs and essential economic activity.
In any case, Calvià Town Hall may carry out preventive actions and implement measures described in the Emergency Plan at any time based on objective indications and anticipation of negative evolution of the water resources available in the municipality, promoting preparatory, tactical, strategic and even emergency measures, with the objective of minimising the risks derived and improving the efficient management of the entry into a scenario of drought.
You can consult the Plan's Summary Report here aquí