The Mayor Advises Responsible and Careful Use of Water

The Mayor of Manilva, Salvador Zotano, has ordered measures for the preservation and responsible use of the water resources in line with the regional government, the Junta de Andalucia’s, Drought Decree which came into force last month.

These measures will hopefully put an end to the wasteful and irresponsible use of the dwindling water resources that has made these measures necessary.

Mr Zotano has stressed that it is the duty of each and every citizen of Manilva and the rest of the Costa del Sol to take a responsible attitude and to adopt active measures to reduce water consumption, “responsible use of water in our day-to-day lives is the only way that water saving can be effective and by doing so we can avoid more drastic measures having to be taken” said the Mayor.

The new decree forbids the use of drinking water for: Washing down the streets and roads; filling or topping-up of swimming pools; irrigation of parks and gardens; washing of cars, except at authorised centres; use of ornamental pools and fountains, except where the water is re-circulated; public showers, etc. These measures, however, do not apply where the use of re-cycled or purified water is used, providing the quality of the water can be assured.

For agricultural purposes irrigation will not be permitted for intensive annual crops and will be restricted to 200 cubic metres per hectare per month for perennial crops to ensure their survival during this period.

The Mayor has also insisted that golf courses will not be allowed to use drinking water for irrigation.

It should be noted, that where possible, only non-essential services have been affected and with care these measures will not have to be extended.

The aim is to reduce daily consumption from the current 270 litres per person to 230 litres per person, and it should be noted that fines of up to 60,000 euros will be levied for infringement.