The last Autumn rains have given Ibiza a break After many months of concern about the lack of water, the island has managed to significantly increase the level of its aquifers and, with that, It officially exits the drought alert stage to move to a pre-alert phase, something that represents a long-awaited change in trend.
This advance is part of a general improvement of water reserves in the Balearic IslandsHowever, the situation remains delicate and under technical monitoring. The data from the Ministry of the Sea and Water Cycle of the Balearic Government They point to a slow but sustained recovery, which requires combining relief with prudence and not letting our guard down regarding the responsible use of water.
Ibiza leaves drought alert behind
According to the latest water resources report, The aquifers of Ibiza have gone from 39% to 47% of capacity in just one month. This eight-percentage-point jump allows the island to no longer be classified in alert scenario and is now located in drought pre-alertThis indicates less immediate pressure on resources, but still far from full normality.
The authorities emphasize that The change in scenario is especially relevant for water management on the largest of the Pitiusas Islands. Leaving the alert status behind means leaving behind the most tense point in ordinary land-use planning, although the pre-alert phase still requires a strict demand control and active measures to prevent setbacks if rainfall becomes scarce again.
The Balearic Government emphasizes that this positive evolution in Ibiza is directly linked to the heaviest rainfall episodes recorded in recent weekswhich have favored the recharge of the island's aquifers. Even so, it is emphasized that the island continues to be in a context of structural drought, in which it is essential to maintain citizen awareness.
The technicians point out that, despite the lifting of the alert, Pressure on underground resources remains highThis is partly due to a combination of drier winters and very dry, hot summers. This pattern of consecutive years with below-average rainfall reduces the aquifers' capacity to recharge, especially in areas with high levels of tourism.
Official data reinforces the idea that The improvement to Ibiza is a step forward, but not the end of the problem.Water conservation campaigns and recommendations for optimizing domestic and municipal water use remain in place, and key economic sectors, such as tourism and agriculture, are encouraged to continue implementing efficiency measures.
General increase in bookings in the Balearic Islands
The recovery of Ibiza is part of a general increase in water reserves across the Balearic IslandsThe month of November closed with an average level of 48% of reservations in the archipelago, which is four points higher than the previous month and marks a slight change in trend compared to the situation at the beginning of autumn.
By island, the evolution has been uneven but in all cases with a positive sign except in Formentera. Mallorca has gone from 44% to 48%., Menorca has increased from 43% to 44%. e Ibiza has risen from 39% to 47%., the latter being the most notable increase. Formentera, for its part, presents a slight recoil in its reserves, although it still remains in normal scenario.
The Ministry points out that, despite this improvement, the The global index of the Hydrographic Demarcation stands at 0,396This figure is still lower than that recorded one and two years ago, when it stood at 0,495 and 0,454 respectively. This comparison reflects that, although the last month has been better, the water system is still suffering from an accumulated deficit that cannot be corrected in just a few weeks.
If the situation is analyzed by demand units (DU)the report detects general increases in Menorca, Artà, Manacor-Felanitx, Migjorn, Palma-Alcúdia, Tramuntana Nord, Tramuntana Sud and Ibiza. Among these, the UD of Migjorn It stands out for having made the leap to a normal phaseWhile Ibiza, Tramuntana Sud and Manacor-Felanitx They register significant improvements within their respective scenarios.
Regarding the territorial distribution, currently a 16,7% of the Balearic surface area (Migjorn and Formentera) is already in normal, the 67,1% are on pre-alert (including Ibiza, Menorca, Manacor-Felanitx, Palma-Alcúdia and areas of the Tramuntana) and the 16,2% remain on alert, mainly in It is Pla and Artà. This map confirms that, although progress has been made, A significant part of the archipelago remains at risk levels.
The technical reports of Water Portal of the Government They recall that, at the beginning of autumn, The overall situation in the district was worse than the previous year.with lower reserves and a more pronounced drought index. Furthermore, it is emphasized that the current scenario is more similar to a very dry end to summer than to what would be typical after the first autumn rains, when historically reserves reached October slightly above 50%.
Rainfall, cut-off lows and data from Aemet
The behavior of the Rainfall in recent months has been key to explaining the improvement of water reserves, although the records remain far from the values considered optimal. According to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet)November has behaved like a month of "Normal" rainfall on a global scale in the Balearic Islands, with 70,8 liters per square meter compared to the 94,3 l/m² that marks the climate average.
However, the island details show significant differences. Mallorca has recorded around 70 l/m² (normal behavior), while Menorca has reached 109 l/m², which translates into a month categorized as damp. At the opposite extreme, Ibiza has only collected 37 l/m², a figure that is considered drought, and Formentera barely 19 l/m², classified as very dry.
These specific values contrast with very intense specific episodes. Cut-off lows and storms from late September to mid-October They left torrential rains in parts of Mallorca and Menorca, with high-impact records in just a few 10 minutesIn the case of the Pitiusas Islands, daily rainfall records were broken at the Ibiza airport and Formentera weather stations, with accumulations exceeding 80 l/m² in a single day.
The annual analysis focuses on the interannual precipitation, which remains around 94% of the average across the archipelagoThe distribution is uneven across the islands: Mallorca stands at 88%., Menorca reaches 100% and Pitiusas reach 130%This reflects that, despite some dry months, the hydrological year accumulates more rain than usual in Ibiza and Formentera thanks to very intense episodes.
Regarding temperatures, Aemet indicates that The average temperature for November was 14,4°C, with a positive anomaly of + 0,3 ºCThat is, slightly above normal values. This small temperature excess, combined with a trend of several years of more heat and less rain, has a direct impact: It increases evaporation and reduces the recovery capacity of aquifers.even when isolated episodes of heavy rainfall occur.
All of this leads experts to insist that, despite the current relief, The drought in the Balearic Islands must be understood in a long-term perspective.Models indicate that autumn maps showing much of Mallorca on pre-alert and inland areas on alert are becoming more frequent, a pattern that is related to Recurring droughts and climate change in the Mediterranean region.
Pre-alert map, drought levels and water management
The legal framework that regulates the drought management in the Balearic Islands is defined in the Special Action Plan in Alert Situations and Potential DroughtThis regulation establishes indices, scenarios, and measures associated with each level. It uses a color system to represent the state of each demand unit: green for normal, yellow for pre-alert, orange for alert, and red for emergency.
To declare a pre-alert scenarioThe drought index of a demand unit must be maintained during at least three consecutive months within the values set for that level. It is considered that water resources are beginning to decrease and that it is necessary to adopt management measures specific measures to prevent further deterioration, such as adjustments to water intake, consumption control, or recommendations for saving to the population.
When the situation worsens and pre-alert thresholds are exceeded during two months in a row, we move to the stage of alertAt this point, available resources begin to run short and ordinary management is no longer sufficient: it becomes essential introduce restrictions on water consumption, both in urban and agricultural uses, with the aim of preserving strategic reserves and extending the system's capacity to meet basic demand.
The most severe level is that of drought emergencyThis is declared when the scarcity index is very high and reserves are at a minimum. In this phase, in addition to the restrictions already in place, the following measures may be implemented: prohibit certain uses of watersuch as watering gardens, filling swimming pools or certain recreational and ornamental uses, prioritizing human supply and essential activities.
Returning to less severe scenarios is not immediate: for to lower from alert to pre-alert or from pre-alert to normal It is necessary to string together several months with drought indices within the lower limits, which requires not only sufficient rainfall, but also careful management of demand and leaks in distribution networksThis explains why, although Ibiza has rapidly improved its bookings, it remains on pre-alert and under close technical monitoring.
The latest reports from the Water Portal already anticipated, in mid-autumn, that if the rainfall continuedIt was likely that Ibiza could reduce its level from alert to pre-alert at the end of the month, something that has finally been confirmed. However, they indicated that a similar change was not as likely for either Mallorca or Menorca within the same timeframe, given the more precarious situation in some of their demand units.
Outlook for the coming months and pending challenges
Given the current situation, water resource services believe that In December, reservations will remain at similar levels.with no drastic changes expected in the drought scenarios. The forecast is moderate stability: neither an immediate worsening, nor a spectacular recovery that suddenly leads to normality in most units.
In the case of Ibiza, this stability can be used to consolidate the exit from alertprovided that a reasonable rainfall pattern is maintained and management and conservation policies continue. The challenge lies in Avoid setbacks if the coming months are dry again. and to take advantage of the current respite to promote improvement actions in the network, such as reducing leaks or optimizing desalinated and reclaimed water infrastructure.
The authorities also emphasize the importance of the citizen awareness campaignsThe message is clear: although Ibiza is no longer on alert, the island remains highly vulnerable to prolonged dry periods, so it is advisable to maintain responsible consumption habits in homes, businesses, and public administrations. This culture of saving is seen as a basic tool for adapting to a context of more frequent and intense droughts.
In parallel, work is being done on planning for the long term in the face of climate changeThis phenomenon in the Mediterranean manifests as a combination of fewer rainy days, more frequent but intense downpours, and higher average temperatures. This combination complicates the slow and continuous recharge of aquifers and necessitates strengthening both water management planning and infrastructure investments.
This autumn's experience, with a start marked by concern and a somewhat more favorable end, leaves a clear lesson for Ibiza and the rest of the Balearic Islands: The occasional improvements in reserves should not be confused with the end of the drought.The progress made in moving from alert to pre-alert is a reasonable cause for relief, but water management will remain a priority issue, both for institutions and for citizens, if a reliable supply is to be guaranteed in an increasingly demanding climate scenario.
