Modernisation of Menorca's water infrastructure

The project

The Island Council of Menorca and the island's town councils have launched the 'Menorca Water' project. A line of action that promotes the modernisation of the island's water infrastructure, promoting provision and renovation.

Declared a Biosphere Reserve, the actions undertaken in Menorca must ensure that the island is more sustainable and environmentally friendly, respecting its limited resources.

Main objectives

Based on the extraordinary Annual Plan for the Promotion of Sustainable Tourism for 2023, the project is type C, which means that it can be put out to tender once funding has been obtained. 

The goals are to:

• Improve the hydraulic capacity and mechanical resistance of installations, eliminating drinking water losses and breakdowns.

• New separate rainwater networks, preventing problems with sewage treatment plants.

• New regulating and supply tanks with guarantees.

• New pumps in catchment wells to gain energy efficiency.

• Upgrade and modernise facilities with the capacity to provide the sector with an up-to-date fire-fighting network.

• Elimination of architectural barriers in streets with actions that complement the main objective.

• Replacement of current paving and burying infrastructures in the old quarters of the municipalities where work is being carried out.

Protection, preservation, modernisation and recovery of the natural, rural, agricultural and marine environment.

The project is a municipal competence and will be executed by local councils, based on a consensus with the Island Council. From notification of the concession resolution, it will have a maximum period of 36 months to execute the "Phase 2 Menorca Water" project. This may be extended up to 24 months.

Causes of the intervention

Given existing problems related to the hydraulic infrastructures in Menorca, urgent intervention is needed to help provide a drinking water supply network to many residential developments. In many cases, water is discharged into the sea without degreasing or decanting.

Water supply comes entirely from aquifers in all municipalities except Ciutadella. These aquifers are overexploited due to the fact that the season of lowest recharge coincides with maximum consumption during the tourist season and the increase in population. Many of the facilities have outlived their useful life.

Efficient medium-term work

Ultimately, work will be carried out to update the tertiary treatment system of the Maó-Es Castell WWTP in order to achieve greater use of wastewater for irrigation, cleaning and non-drinking water supply in the port of Maó, with a single quality of water leaving the station, the most demanding in the category of 'Urban Uses'.