Watering hazard

THE regional government has increased the price of desalinated water for golf courses by nearly 23 per cent.

Clubs will now have to pay €1.90 per cubic metre (1,000 litres of water) instead of the previous €1.45, plus taxes.

Spokespeople for the Govern have explained that the price increase is due to rising production costs.

Desalinated water has nearly doubled in cost for golf courses over the last 10 years since the Balearic Water Agency (Abaqua) in 2013 set a price of €1 per cubic metre of water generated at the Alcudia and Andratx de­ salination plants.

Three years later in 2016 the price was increased to the €1.45 that was maintained until now.

Abaqua manager Guillem Rossello explained that golf courses are required to use treated water for their installations and are only authorised to access desalinated water in specific circumstances.

Sr Rossello added that the priority of desalinated water is to supply the population, although the Govern can authorise its use for golf courses that do not have access to treated water or when it is insufficient.