From next year, owners of large mansions and homes with swimming pools in the Balearics, along with sectors such as hotels and industry, will pay more for the water canon. The increase will be included in a decree law to be approved before spring, with the intention that it will come into force in 2025. This was indicated by the Vice President and Minister of Economy, Antoni Costa, when he announced that the Vice Presidency of the Government is working on a progressive increase aimed at encouraging the responsible use of this scarce resource, according to the website Última Hora. According to the draft budget, the water canon collection is expected to increase from the 90.1 million euros budgeted this year to 112.5 million, which represents an increase of 25%.
Impact on swimming pools and the hotel industry
It is estimated that the increase in the fee for water consumption will affect about 75,000 swimming pools currently existing in the Balearic Islands, including legal facilities that were regularized thanks to the administrative simplification decree. According to GOB data, in recent years some 17 new pools have been authorized per week.
Progressive increase and bonuses
Antoni Costa, the Minister of Economy, has detailed that the increase in the canon will be gradual and will depend on the level of consumption. Large consumers, such as the hotel sector and mansions with high water use, will face the highest increases, which could exceed an average of 25%. On the other hand, small property owners, even those with swimming pools, could experience more moderate increases of between 10% and 15%. In parallel, the Govern will introduce reductions in the canon for users with low consumption, thus rewarding efficient water use. “The aim is to move towards a more progressive model, where those who consume more pay more,” said Costa, recalling that this progressiveness began during the mandate of José Ramón Bauzá.
