Tag Archives: Water

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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Forest water

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The holm oak forest is one of the jewels of Menorca’s woodlands, a space that generates magical landscapes. But the experience each person has when visiting one of these places can be very different. Those who are used to mushroom picking know that this is where some of the earliest mushrooms of autumn grow. Hunters will think of it as the place to hunt woodcocks. Others may see it as cubic metres of quality firewood.

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Course on sustainable and resilient gardening with Es Viver – Plantes de Menorca

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As part of its mission to promote environmentally friendly and easy-to-maintain gardening, Es Viver – Plantes de Menorca of GOB is organizing a theoretical and practical course on sustainable and resilient gardening, taking place one Saturday morning per month from October to March. Each session lasts two hours, totalling 12 hours of training.

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October 11 – II Regenerative Aquaculture Seminar

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Climate change and the need to preserve the coastline compel us to find resilient and sustainable alternatives. The Regenerative Aquaculture Seminar returns in 2025 to continue raising these questions and how to address them in a place such as Menorca.

What is regenerative aquaculture? Are there precedents of this activity in Menorca? Is it possible to make marine activity compatible with a sustainable model? The second edition of the Aquaculture Seminar will address these and other questions, with the participation of experts and professionals in the sector to share knowledge, experiences, and proposals that may help define the future of coastal management that is more respectful of marine ecosystems and society.

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The main water consumers, a priority for inspections

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The GOB wishes to thank the joint action carried out by the Civil Guard and Water Resources to close an illegal well that extracted 40 tonnes of water daily at a rural hotel in Alaior. Ending the feeling of total impunity that has been observed in water abuse cases is essential for Menorca to have a future outlook on this issue.

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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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Look to look after: workshops to see the sea with new eyes

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GOB Menorca, with the support of Menorca Preservation and the Marilles Foundation, has launched the project “Look to Look After” | “Seeing is Believing,” which aims to strengthen both the emotional and rational connection between people — especially children — and the sea. By the end of June, more than 95 students from different schools on the island are expected to have taken part in the first edition of these educational workshops.

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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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