The Conselleria del Mar y Ciclo del Agua has reported on the state of water reserves in the Pitiusas Islands during the month of October, showing a situation that continues to be worrying, especially in the case of Formenterawhich remains on alert, while Ibiza remains in pre-alert. Although at a general level the archipelago has remained stable, the percentages in the Pitiusas have experienced fluctuations that reflect a panorama of prolonged drought. At the Balearic level, water reserves are at 46%, a similar level to the previous month, but lower than the 54% recorded in October last year. However, while other islands such as Mallorca have experienced increases or stability in their reserves, Ibiza has seen a slight drop from 33% to 32%, and Formentera has registered a critical situation in terms of rainfall, having just 22.0 liters per square meter (l/m2) compared to the usual 43.9 l/m2. From the Conselleria insist on the need to carry out a responsible water management, considering that Ibiza has had a particularly dry month with only 30.9 l/m2 of rainfall compared to the expected 58.4 l/m2. These figures leave both islands in a scenario of vulnerability which, in combination with the accumulated rainfall deficit, makes it imperative to apply water conservation measures and closely monitor the status of aquifers.
Forecasts
In terms of forecasts, the general index for the Balearic demarcation has shown a slight rebound in October, standing at 0.367, slightly higher than the previous month. However, this figure is still below the levels of previous years, marking a trend that warns about the effects of climate change and reduced rainfall on the islands. With the arrival of November and possible rainfall, it is expected that the state of reserves in Ibiza and Formentera may improve slightly, although no significant changes in alert levels are expected.
