Recycled Water: The Key Solution to Drought in the Balearic Islands

Water management in the Balearic Islands is at a turning point. Climate change has led to more intense droughts, rising temperatures, and rainfall, when it does come, is erratic. In a particularly vulnerable island setting, where pressure on groundwater is constant and demand increases with more tourists coming in, finding sustainable solutions is no longer an option, but an urgent necessity. Against this background, recycled water is one of the most effective tools for ensuring water security throughout the archipelago.

Water recycling involves applying additional treatments to treated water in order to remove pollutants, micro-organisms and chemical compounds. This ensures a safe, versatile resource. This ‘new’ water is used for irrigation on farms, green spaces, cleaning streets, industrial uses and even to recharge groundwater, helping to curb the saltwater intrusion that threatens many underground reservoirs. It’s not just about increasing supply, but also about preventing dumping into the sea, protecting coastal ecosystems and moving towards a circular model where every drop can live several new lives.

A pioneering example on the islands is the Santa Ponça Water Recycling Plant (WRP) in Calvià, which opened in 2022. This plant, the most advanced in the Balearic Islands and one of the most advanced in Spain, represents a breakthrough in water management. With an investment of €5.3 million funded by Balearic sanitation tax, the facility will allow the current 12% reuse rate to rise to 85% at peak production, bringing it closer to the goal of using practically 100% treated water. Its modular design allows production to be adapted to future needs, and it already boasts a distribution network of 55 km, which will be extended by a further 17 km to supply strategic areas in the municipality. With the capacity to produce up to 20,000 m3 per day of recycled water for irrigation on farms and golf courses, and 10,000 m3 per day of the highest quality for non-drinking urban uses, the Santa Ponça WRP has become a national and international benchmark that attracts institutions from other regions interested in replicating its model.

The urgent need for water recycling in the Balearic Islands can be understood by looking at the context. Dependence on groundwater, population growth, pressure from tourism and dwindling rainfall make every available cubic metre a strategic resource. Moreover, the use of recycled water helps to maintain the quality of coastal waters, which are essential not only for biodiversity, but also for key economic activities such as fishing and tourism. Examples such as the pilot project at the St. Regis Mardavall Hotel, which replaces more than 16.5 million litres of drinking water per year with recycled water for watering its gardens, show that public-private partnerships are both possible and necessary. This initiative frees up water for human consumption and demonstrates that sustainability can be part of the day-to-day management of large facilities.

Innovation also plays a central role. The Balearic Islands are making progress with projects such as e-AIGO, backed by Hidrobal, Calvià City Council and the Mancomunitat Pla de Mallorca, with technology developed by the Agbar Group. This €11.8 million project, financed with Next Generation EU funds, will digitalise the water cycle, monitor catchments in real time, optimise distribution networks and ensure that every drop is used efficiently. It also allows for the controlled recharge of groundwater with recycled water, thus boosting water security and resilience to increasingly common droughts.

Water recycling is not just a technical solution; it’s also a collective commitment. Achieving sustainable management requires the involvement of institutions, companies and citizens. The benefits are numerous: freeing up drinking water for human consumption, protecting ecosystems, reducing pressure on groundwater and minimising discharge to the sea. In fragile territories such as the Balearic Islands, where drought is a constant threat and tourism makes management more difficult, every drop counts. This commitment to breathing new life into water is not just a short-term response, but the only possible strategy to ensure a liveable, resilient and sustainable future for the islands.