Large Irrigations in Full Sun and Against the Law

Views: 102

In a year of severe drought, large forage irrigations continue to be seen watering during peak sun hours. In Menorca, this practice is prohibited by law. The GOB (Balearic Group of Ornithology and Defense of Nature) has written to the Department of Water Resources to request that large farms engaging in these practices be warned.

Watering by sprinklers between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. during the height of August means wasting a significant amount of water, as it evaporates immediately. Large volumes are drawn from the aquifer without benefiting anyone. This is a practice that Menorca can no longer afford.

In recent weeks, six farms have been observed watering during the hottest hours of the day. Five of these are located in Ciutadella, the municipality with the worst aquifers and, interestingly, the only one with a desalination plant. The sixth is in the municipality of Alaior.

Sprinkler irrigation in open fields during peak sunlight hours between May and September is forbidden by the Menorca Biosphere Reserve Law.

Furthermore, for many years, other laws have mandated that all wells must have meters and that a record of extractions must be sent to the competent authority. In Menorca, this requirement is systematically ignored without any administrative response.

Controlling large irrigations in Menorca, about 20 farms in total, is one of the requests made in the Via Menorca campaign, which addresses the issue of the island’s water resource depletion.

Large urban consumers (some companies, certain tourist areas, public pipeline leaks, etc.) are perfectly identified by their respective municipalities and should be subjected to deterrent tariffs. The misuse of water in agriculture falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Water Resources, which is dependent on the Balearic Government and must be controlled to prevent this excessive and senseless use.

Recently, the news of the drying up of the historic s’Aranjassa fountain in the Algendar ravine has emerged. This is irrefutable evidence of the need to use the island’s water much more wisely.