Tag Archives: Waste & sewage

Irrigation with contaminated water

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Irrigation with contaminated water

The Balearic Government’s Department of Agriculture says it intends to significantly increase the irrigated areas of Menorca, but it has not clarified where the necessary water will come from.

One of the most imminent projects — the use of treated wastewater for irrigation in Sant Lluís — raises fears of contamination due to the poor quality of the water. This initiative directly contradicts existing water management policies.

The project is to be financed with public funds, amounting to around 8 million euros. GOB submitted detailed objections outlining all the concerns the project raises. No response has been received, but the Government has announced that it plans to start construction soon.

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Housing and tourist pressure, two related problems

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Access to housing has become a problem in recent years in Menorca. Addressing this important social challenge is an increasingly urgent need, and data and reflection are required to take steps in the right direction.

In this note, based on official data, some of the variables most closely related to the situation are analyzed.

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Thinking about the blaze

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Some species of pines have cones that remain closed for years, only opening when the temperature is very high. They store seeds that will burst out in case of fire and remain fertile afterwards.

In this way, the tree has developed a specific mechanism to increase the survival of its species. The pine coexists well with heat, but it is also prepared for when there is excessive blaze.

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Urban development excesses of 900%

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A new urban planning threat is being proposed on rural land in Menorca, presented as essential agricultural buildings to save the island’s countryside. Enormous building projects are being proposed with requests for exemption from urban planning parameters, so they can fall outside the scope of current regulations. These will be agricultural buildings… as long as the activity lasts.

Currently open to public consultation is a project for a large winery in Ciutadella, on the Camí de Macarella. It is planned on specially protected land and within an area of High Fire Risk. It is undergoing processing to be declared of General Interest. GOB has submitted objections.

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Meeting in Ibiza of all island sections of GOB

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Formentera rejoins the structure of GOB in the Balearic Islands.

The Inter-island Board of GOB of the Balearic Islands, composed of representatives from GOB Mallorca, GOB Menorca, GEN-GOB, and GOB Formentera, met this Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Can Casals (Ibiza), the headquarters of GEN-GOB, for their annual interisland coordination meeting.

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From Ciutadella’s water crisis to Menorca’s sustainability challenge

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Ciutadella is one of the municipalities where underground water resources are in the worst state, to the point that the new General Plan is currently halted because it cannot guarantee supply for the projected population.

Two years ago, the Sustainable Water Management Plan for the municipality was drafted. GOB submitted comments because there were very concerning situations. Given the chronic nature of these issues for decades, the intervention by the Civil Guard and the judicial complaint, potentially qualifying as an environmental crime due to water management, were considered good news.

Now, it has been announced that the Government is approving the Water Management Plan, but no one has responded to the comments. Therefore, we recall them here so they do not remain in a drawer:

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Environmental concern over projects at the Port of Maó

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GOB has not received any response to the objections it submitted regarding two major nautical projects at the Port of Maó, nor has it received answers to its requests for access to information.

Plans to discharge desalination plant brine directly into the port, construction of new pontoons in natural areas, lack of environmental impact assessments, and overcrowding of nearby coves are among the concerns raised due to the high potential impact.

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Doubts and risks in the sanitation project for Cala Sant Esteve

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The project to equip Cala Sant Esteve with a sewage system raises questions about compliance with current regulations, could alter the cove’s landscape, and is further clouded by a large-scale land purchase adjacent to the urban area.

The GOB has submitted objections to the proposed sanitation project for Cala Sant Esteve, a small housing development traditionally tied to local residents.

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Join Us on Saturday, December 28th, at 10:30 AM, in Plaça Conquesta, Maó

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On Saturday, December 28th, a rally will be held to protest against the growing tourism saturation affecting Menorca. In 2024, we have once again surpassed previous years in terms of tourist numbers, and the Consell Insular has announced a significant increase in tourism promotion.

Summer overcrowding is planned in winter. On December 28th, in Plaça Conquesta, Maó, at 10:30 AM, we will come together to demand a better future. Bring your friends and join us!

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