News

Crews get Formentera's reservoirs sparkling for season ahead

Monday, 14 May 2018 14:10

foto neteja diposit 2018 At the urging of the Formentera Council, Aquàlia, the concessionaire for the island's water works, has completed cleaning and disinfection of Formentera's water sources. Such maintenance of the equipment —a 3,000m³ reservoir in Sant Ferran, a 1,000m³ one in es Ca Marí and a 22,000m³ reservoir in es Pujols— is required by law. A piece of nationwide legislation known as Real Decreto 140/2003 sets quality standards for water used for human consumption, while Decret 53/12 establishes similar standards for water in the Balearics.

Such efforts are crucial to optimising the quality of water stored in reservoirs and later distributed to the island at large. Crews emptied the reservoirs and scrubbed and disinfected their inner walls with sodium hypochlorite. They also took advantage of the opportunity to carry out checks and necessary maintenance of valves, storage tanks, pipes and other equipment.

Cleaning sewage grid
In addition, Aquàlia oversaw cleaning of the sewage grid as part of Formentera's prevention plan and regular upgrades scheduled ahead of summertime. Operators train their sights on dirt, leaves and paper that builds up in the inner chamber of reservoirs and complicates water collection on days of rain.

Islanders can help keep Formentera's water facilities in good operating order by not throwing rubbish in stormwater drains, which can clog pipes and create foul smells street side. Tossing litter into the toilet, which can cause problems with sewerage systems and natural biological filtering processes, must also be avoided.

Road closures for Formentera's ten-year-old half marathon

Friday, 11 May 2018 17:40

Foto talls mitja marato 2018 The island's Mitja Marató, or Half Marathon, will prompt multiple road closures this Saturday, May 12, affecting motorists and cyclists alike.

The 21K footrace begins at 5.30pm at la Mola lighthouse. Its 8K cousin gets going at the same time from kilometre marker 6.2 on the Sant Ferran highway.

The stretch of road connecting the town of el Pilar de la Mola and the nearby lighthouse will be closed to vehicle traffic from 3.00pm. Athletes who drive to the event will find parking at a special lot in el Pilar de la Mola and must cover the final two kilometres to the lighthouse on foot. A shuttle service at the end of the race will take participants from the finish line back to the car park. Access to the lighthouse will be restricted to buses and vehicles belonging to the event organisation. Parking at the lighthouse itself is absolutely prohibited. Any cars parked at the special car park before 3.00pm will be towed and their owners fined.

The main highway will be blocked between es Caló and la Mola from 4.30pm and between Sant Ferran and es Caló from 5.00pm. That is also when closures will take place on the stretch from la Savina to es Pujols and Sant Ferran.

Vehicle traffic can resume as soon as the final runners have passed. Organisers say they expect the last runners will reach the port of la Savina finish line between 7.30pm and 8.00pm.

Vehicle entry regulated from Monday at ses Salines nature reserve

Friday, 11 May 2018 16:07

Peatge entrada illetes The Formentera Council's mobility office reports that Monday, May 14, operators will begin regimenting vehicle access to the Parc Natural de ses Salines. Formentera residents can continue to park vehicles at the reserve at no charge. Non-residents, meanwhile, will be asked to pay €4 per car and €2 per scooter.

Controlled access to parking areas near Illetes beach will be in force until September 30. At car parks serving es Cavall d'en Borràs and Llevant beaches, attendants will be on duty from June 1 to September 15. The patrolled entry points will be open from 9.00am to 5.00pm in the low season and 9.00am to 8.00pm in the heart of summer.

Prohibitions and vehicle restrictions
As part of an effort to foment sustainable forms of transport and safeguard the protected land, four-by-fours are expressly prohibited within the confines of the nature reserve. Plus, controlled access will be implemented for regular and discretional buses as a rush-hour traffic avoidance measure.

Oversized vehicles, such as lorries carrying products to nearby restaurants, are also restricted during peak visiting times. That measure will remain in place until September 30.

Special timetable for night buses following tenth 'Mitja Marató'

Friday, 11 May 2018 17:40

Foto mojinos escozios The Formentera Council's mobility department announces that buses will operate on a special schedule to accommodate a nighttime concert following this Saturday's half marathon.

From 9.00pm to 2.15am, buses linking es Pujols with other towns and central points on the island will be available to islanders wishing to reach Los Mojinos Escozios's 11.30pm concert at plaça Europa.

Night bus service was hit upon as a way to provide transport for everyone, from locals to individuals who are just in town for the race. Two additional journeys at 1.15am and 1.35am will provide revellers overnighting on Eivissa a way to get from es Pujols to la Savina after the concert. Trasmapi has promised a 2.00am ferry passage to Eivissa specially for the event.

Riders on the night bus will be charged €4 for single and €6 for return tickets.

Formentera to welcome 3000 runners as 'Mitja Marató' turns ten

Thursday, 10 May 2018 17:04

Mitja marato 2015 J.Antonio Arribas The Formentera Council president and sports secretary met today to unveil details concerning the tenth Mitja Marató, or Half Marathon, on the island. Joining Jaume Ferrer and Jordi Vidal at the presentation were spokespeople from two of the event's main backers, Trasmapi's Alejandro Marí and CaixaBank's Josep Verdera, as well as Manuel Hernández of Unisportconsulting, the company overseeing organisation of the race.

Formentera's half marathon happens this Saturday, May 12. Three thousand athletes are scheduled to compete—two thousand for the half marathon and another thousand who will tackle the 8K route. This year was the second in which aspiring participants —more than seven thousand of them— drew lots for a chance to take part in the run. Organisers estimate that all told some 7,500 people will travel to the Formentera for the event.

Enhanced safety measures
Visiting law enforcement from Santa Eulària and Sant Antoni will be on hand to help keep things safe and, according to the secretary, “to reinforce safety provisions in place”. Highlighting the will of Eivissa's town councils and community groups to assist in Saturday's event, Vidal pointed out that civil protection volunteers from Sant Antoni and Sant Josep were due to pitch in as well, “to guarantee the safety of all those involved”.

Calling to mind turnout at the inaugural edition (one hundred and one), President Ferrer said the race had “come a long way in a decade”. He voiced thanks for all those who over the years have made the event possible, particularly volunteers, asserting “they are the ones responsible for making the Mitjà Marató a race that athletes —from across the islands, the country and the world— come take part in”.

Timetable and traffic interruptions
Runners in the 21K race set out at 5.30pm from la Mola lighthouse. Their 8K counterparts' hit the pavement at the same time, leaving kilometre marker 6.2 on the Sant Ferran highway.

The stretch of road connecting the town of el Pilar de la Mola and the nearby lighthouse will be closed to vehicle traffic from 3.00pm. Access will then be blocked between es Caló and la Mola from 4.30pm and between Sant Ferran and es Caló from 5.00pm. That is also when closures will take place on the stretch from la Savina to es Pujols and Sant Ferran. Vehicle traffic can resume as soon as the final runners have passed. Organisers say they expect the last runners will reach the port of la Savina finish line between 7.30pm and 8.00pm.

Athletes who drive to the event will find parking at a special lot in el Pilar de la Mola and must cover the final two kilometres to the lighthouse on foot. A shuttle service at the end of the race will take participants from the finish line back to the car park. Access to the lighthouse will be restricted to buses and vehicles belonging to the event organisation.

Anniversary concert
A free performance by Los Mojinos Escozios is being lined up to celebrate the half marathon's tenth year. The band is scheduled to take the stage in es Pujols's plaça Europa at 11.30pm. To accommodate those runners overnighting on Eivissa and hoping to get in on a bit of music first, a special 2.00am ferry passage and night buses between la Savina and es Pujols will also be made available.