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Areas Urbanism & territory, Tourism and Economic activities Environment

Formentera's digitised supply network means 11,500m3 in yearly water savings

foto 2022ix felibIn the last three years, efforts by the Consell de Formentera and Aqualia to digitise the urban water supply network have made it possible to signal indoor leaks and reduce water lost on the local grid by an average of 11,500 cubic metres a year.

These data were presented on Wednesday at a conferewnce on good practices in sustainable water management in tourism-oriented municipalities of the Balearics. Officials, including Antoni Tur, councillor of environment, gathered in Palma for the conference, part of LIFE WAT'SAVEREUSE, a project of the European Union.

Councillor Tur highlighted work by the Consell de Formentera and Aqualia to oversee the technological transformation of the municipal water service since the pioneering plan was launched in 2017. He drew attention to features like remotely controlled sector meters and improvements allowing fast and secure data consultation, alerts and remote operations, and service upgrades through integration with the Water Anaylitics Platform.

Tur also asserted that, at the conference, Formentera was held up as an example and a national benchmark, "since roughly 100% of our meters operate with remote reading technology". Finally, Tur stressed that the commitment to enhanced water management on the island "isn't just key to improving the service, it mitigates the impact of the effects of climate change".

Data
Formentera's 52-kilometre water grid was operating at 92.71% at year-end 2021, making it one of the best performing networks in the Balearic Islands. Digitised urban water has meant improvements for Formentera's supply network and end users alike. Detection of 18 incidents in 2021 prevented average losses of 530 litres an hour and exorbitant water bills.

Formentera's 2,900 meters issue real-time readings automatically, sending hourly updates to the control centre in Sant Francesc.

16 September 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Two coastal cleanups at Ses Pesqueres Altes and Es Carnatge

The Formentera Office of Environment is pleased to report that over the next two Saturdays, 17 and 24 September, coastal cleanups will be held in Ses Pesqueres Altes (S'Estufador) and Es Carnatge, respectively. The first is organised by Plastic Free Formentera on the occasion of World Cleanup Day and benefits from the collaboration of volunteers at Qué Celeste and the Consell de Formentera, which will provide material for cleaning and rubbish collection. Participants should meet at 9.30am in front of La Mola church and wear appropriate footwear.

The other cleanup session will happen on 24 September in Es Carnatge as part of Qué Celeste Festival. Es Carnatge is one of the areas with the highest concentration of plastics on the island. The Consell de Formentera will provide support for the second session as well, as will volunteers from environmental organisations present at Qué Celeste Festival. A workshop will be held at Es Carnatge beach to raise awareness about microplastics and how they harm the environment. Participants should meet in Cala en Baster at 10.00am and wear appropriate footwear.

14 September 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

cartell 2022 neteja pesqueres altes

Es Pujols beach

The Consell de Formentera will reopen Es Pujols beach (Platja des Pujols) to swimmers once yesterday's analysis by Balearic Islands Public Health (Salut Pública de les Illes Balears, SPIB) presents conditions required for swimming. The beach was closed to swimmers after the SPIB laboratory recommended temporary closure based on tests of water quality.

19 August 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Special patrols to stop parties in Es Cavall d'en Borràs area of nature reserve

Saturday and Sunday evenings, from sunset to the early morning hours the following days, Formentera Local Police (PLF) and Formentera Civil Guard (GCF) performed special patrols to prevent illegal parties in Es Cavall d'en Borràs area of the Ses Salines Nature Reserve.

Friday 29 July, an illegal party took place in that area, though law enforcement received no word until the following day, when agents learned about it through videos posted to social media. These patrols will continue in the days ahead.

Ana Juan, president of the Consell de Formentera, has called for a special meeting so the GCF, Coastal Authority and Office of Environment can coordinate around security and "stop these situations that endanger our fragile reserve and are at odds with the quiet island we want".

According to Josep Marí, councillor of interior, "we have repeatedly asked for greater police presence to keep Formentera safe and take aim at illegal parties in protected public spaces and private homes".

On Saturday night there were two illegal parties in two houses in the area of Cala en Baster. PLF and GCF agents responded to the report. In both cases the PLF cited violations of the municipal environmental and public health ordinance on noise and vibratory pollution.

The Consell de Formentera asks islanders to communicate any indication that a large party is being organised to law enforcement officials. Owners of holiday rentals are also reminded that the Consell has prepared a renters' clause prohibiting nuisance activities, parties and over-occupancy and, if implemented, property owners have more legal security and leeway to act in the event one of these situations occurs. It is available on the Consell de Formentera website here.


1 August 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

Amid heat wave, Consell highlights fire prevention measures

The Formentera Offices of Interior and Environment have joined "This summer, keep fires out of the forest" (A l'estiu, ni 1 foc al bosc), a push by the Balearic Government to educate islanders about the period of forest fire risk from 1 May to 15 October.

Josep Marí, councillor of interior, described awareness and prevention measures as "particularly crucial the heat wave and extreme fire risk that we are currently experiencing". The Consell de Formentera wishes to remind islanders of five prevention measures:

Dispose of cigarette butts properly, even if they appear no longer lit.
In the car and on the street, too: cigarette butts belong in the trash.
Keep rubbish far from the forest
Waste such as glass can ignite and cause a forest fire. Dispose of waste properly.
Call 112 if you see a fire
This will quickly activate the related protocol and send response workers to the site.
Review burn authorisations
Due to extreme weather, burn authorisations may be cancelled. Check beforehand.
Turn off machinery if it sparks
When wildfire risk is high, a single spark is all it takes for certain tools to cause a fire.

Fire buffers

Lastly, Councillor Marí reminded islanders living in wooded areas that they are required to make and maintain a safety buffer around the perimeter of their home. This reduces the volume of flammable vegetation and, by breaking its vertical and horizontal continuity, makes it difficult for forest fires to spread. Remove the dry ground-covering layer, selectively clear shrubs, prune trees and, if necessary, remove tree trunks to reduce the amount of vegetation.

Not only is a fire buffer the responsible thing to do, it is a legal imperative set out in various regulations, including Article 77 ("Measures for safe and secure forests in urban-forest interface areas") of Balearic Agrarian Law 3/2019 of 31 January 2019.

21 July 2022
Communications Office
Consell de Formentera

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