City Council Condemns Unauthorised Water Use
Controversy has erupted in Sant Antoni de Portmany following the creation of an artificial lake for an Egyptian-themed party held last week at La Pedrera. The event, organised by Van Wyck & Van Wyck, included a decorative lake filled with approximately 170 tons of water delivered by tanker trucks. The Sant Antoni Town Hall stated it had no prior knowledge of the lake’s installation. According to the council, the descriptive report submitted by organisers did not mention the ornamental feature, its dimensions, or the volume of water required.
As this was an action that the City Council was not previously informed about, we do not have our own data on the exact volume used, its specific origin, or its subsequent destination.
The council emphasised it had not approved water allocation for an ornamental purpose and expressed its "unequivocal" rejection of the decision.
Water Use Criticised Amid Scarcity
Sant Antoni stressed that water is a scarce resource on Ibiza and that authorities have long urged responsible use. The council described the lake as "an absolutely misguided, unnecessary, and difficult-to-justify action" regardless of whether the water came from tankers or the amount used was less than initially reported.
The issue, the council said, extends beyond volume: it was the use of water for a "completely dispensable ornamental element" without official knowledge. The event was authorised as a one-off private gathering with limited capacity under Article 70 of the Balearic Law 7/2013, which applies to outdoor events with fewer than 500 attendees.
Charity Donations Do Not Offset Criticism
The organisers defended the event’s social value, noting donations of €40,000 to Cáritas Sant Antoni and €10,000 to the Motoclub Formentera i Eivissa. The Motoclub confirmed it will use its donation to maintain training facilities at sa Pedrera de Can Coix and support young riders in national and European competitions. Despite these contributions, the council maintained its stance, stating such actions contradict ongoing efforts to promote water efficiency. The municipality has invested in upgrading its water supply network to reduce losses and improve performance, ranking among the best in the Balearic Islands. The new municipal water-saving ordinance, currently in final stages, is expected to be approved before the end of the year. It aims to reinforce policies on conservation, efficiency, and responsible use.
We consider that an action of this nature is contrary to the message of responsibility and awareness that administrations must convey to citizens and businesses.
Residents and businesses are reminded of the importance of sustainable water practices, particularly as three municipalities in Ibiza, including Sant Antoni, advance new regulations on water reuse and savings under the Alianza por el Agua initiative.
Reported by arabalears.cat, ARA Balears, Redacción Digital, Jesús Rodríguez, okdiario.com, Guillermo Sáez, Marta Torres Molina, Redacción Ibiza, Jo Dargie, Redacción, Susana Asenjo, caritasibiza.org, José Miguel L. Romero, R.I, Claudia Marí Prats, Vanessa Hernández, Ara Cat.
