On the island of Formentera, the supply of water in the distribution network is guaranteed through the production of desalinated water in the Formentera desalination plant. The desalination plant is supplied with salt water through 8 collection wells and has an outfall for the return of the brine with an outlet in front of Ca Marí beach.
The Balearic Water Agency has in Formentera a network of pipelines and distribution networks only to the towns or areas of La Mola, Es Caló, Sant Ferran, La Savina, Sant Francesc, Ses Bardetes, Es Pujols, Sa Roqueta, Ca Marí .
Supply and transportation of water tankers in Formentera
The rest of the points on the island of Formentera must be supplied either with their own wells or small desalination equipment, or with the supply or transportation of water through tanker trucks that load the water at the Ca Marí IDAM (seawater desalination facility).
There are several companies dedicated to the transportation and supply of water in Formentera in water tanker trucks of 3 to 12 tons.
100% of the water supplied in Formentera is desalinated.
This means that all the water supplied on the island of Formentera is 100% desalinated for territorial reasons. The fact that it is a small island means that there are no isolated aquifers and that the only aquifer on the island is connected to the sea along its entire perimeter. Therefore, these conditions cause the aquifer to be in poor condition both qualitatively (marine intrusion and nitrate contamination) and quantitatively (overexploitation).
Massive consumption of water packaged in plastic
In places like the island of Formentera, cheap water tankers are hired for sanitary water, but due to the taste and irregular quality of the water, most also buy bottled water for consumption. The Balearic Government is trying to find alternative solutions to the use of plastic packaging to reduce its strong environmental impact, but it is not easy because the population of Formentera triples from May to November due to tourism and the consumption of drinking water increases in homes and in the restaurants.
Atmospheric drinking water generators
This is a new technology to consider in terms of quality, autonomy and sustainability.
The equipment is very easy to install as it only needs air and electricity to operate.
The water produced with atmospheric generators has excellent quality and does not generate plastic waste or brines.