Felanitx Repairs Its Water Tanks to Stop Leaks

The municipality is taking action on urban tanks to reduce water losses and ensure supply

What does it consist of?

The two main drinking water tanks in Felanitx have structural losses that compromise water supply and lead to unaffordable waste. The local council has initiated technical works to repair and waterproof this infrastructure, with the aim of reducing the current volume of leaks, which is over 40%.

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Data

PROJECT TITLE IN THE CALL
Improving the efficiency of the Felanitx water tanks
LOCATION
Mallorca (Felanitx)
Entity submitting the PROJECT
Federació d'Entitats Locals de les Illes Balears
Entity that executes the project
Ajuntament de Felanitx
Project code
ITSE2023-161
Total project amount
206.348 €
ITS granted amount
206.348 €
Executed amount
176.964 €
Call year
2023E
Execution status
Executed
Purpose
Environment
Budget execution
Executed: 85.76%
Last data request
13.03.2026

The project

In Felanitx, the gap between extracted and billed water exceeds 770,000 cubic metres per year. Part of this loss, around 70% of the total extracted, is due to leaks in the network, many of which stem from municipal tanks. With an ageing network and water infrastructure showing decades of wear and tear, the municipality has prioritised actions to reduce the waste of an increasingly scarce resource.

The two main tanks—one rectangular and one raised circular tank—have serious watertightness problems. The circular tank also has structural risks. The planned works include reinforcement repairs, application of corrosion inhibitors, reconstruction of damaged elements, and the installation of specific waterproofing membranes to ensure watertightness. Moreover, recirculation systems will be added to optimise water quality.

The goal is ambitious, but realistic: to reduce water losses to 17%, in order to meet the standards set by the Balearic Water Plan. This improvement will also lead to a reduction in energy and chlorination costs, as a lower volume of water will be handled for the same service. Operational savings won’t be immediate, but will be sustained over time.

Against a backdrop of aquifer overexploitation and tourist pressure, the modernisation of this infrastructure targets not only efficiency but also health security and supply assurance. The actions provide resilience to climate change and contribute to a more sustainable model of managing water resources.