The Junta de Andalucía will propose tomorrow, at the next meeting of the Drought Management Commission for the Andalusian Mediterranean Basins river basin district, that the water-saving measures currently in force be reduced in the Western Costa del Sol supply systems, where Manilva is located, as the situation moves from serious scarcity to severe scarcity.
More than a month after the water inflows brought by Storm Nelson and its runoff, the Mediterranean Basins ended April with 368.47 hm³ in reservoirs. This improvement in water resources will allow the Andalusian government to present to the Commission a proposal to relax the amount of water per person per day that was set last April in the Western Costa del Sol systems, as a result of the change in situation.
Specifically, the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has agreed to present a proposal to increase the water supply for urban use by 25 litres per inhabitant per day, so that consumption can reach a maximum of 225 litres in the ten municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol system in Málaga province (Benahavís, Benalmádena, Casares, Estepona, Fuengirola, Manilva, Marbella, Ojén, Torremolinos and Mijas).
Refilling of swimming pools
With regard to swimming pools, in addition to public pools, which are already authorised, the Junta de Andalucía, at the proposal of the town halls and the mancomunidades (associations of municipalities) responsible for bulk water supply in all the supply systems, may authorise the refilling of private pools, provided that a technical report is submitted to the Commission justifying compatibility with the allocation approved for the system as a whole, for its consideration. In any case, private pools must have a water recirculation system, so that water is used only in the minimum quantities essential to replace losses from evaporation and filter cleaning and to guarantee the sanitary quality of the water.
Likewise, the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development will propose exceptionally authorising an increase in the water allocation for irrigating green areas, from 200 m³ to 400 m³ per hectare per month for survival irrigation where species of special botanical interest are present, with a maximum of one watering per week, provided that no reclaimed or groundwater is available.
Reopening of drinking fountains with push buttons
Finally, the use of water may also be exceptionally authorised for street-cleaning machinery and for drinking fountains fitted with a push button.
