Wotta Christmas headache
Undrinkable tap water for a week in Alfaz del Pi, Altea and La Nucía
CHRISTMAS dinners and partygoers' showers required bottled water in Alfaz, Altea and La Nucía as tap supplies in all three towns were declared unsuitable for drinking just before the weekend.
Alfaz del Pi was the first council to issue an urgent decree warning residents not to use the water for drinking, cooking, washing-up or personal hygiene last Thursday.
The cause was the high level of dirt and external elements that have entered the local grid after last week's torrential downpours.
Altea and La Nucía issued the same warning on Friday.
With Christmas Eve and Christmas Day cooking and parties in preparation, bottled water sold out in several supermarkets in the area and water in public water spouts was also unsuitable for drinking.
"It was a bit of a nightmare," said one British resident in Alfaz del Pi. "We rushed out to buy bottled water but it's awkward to use it for washing yourself and even doing the dishes... not to mention when you have two small kids!"
Only residents in the Sierra de Altea area - where water supplies come from Bernia - were unaffected.
The situation also affected many pet owners. Some were lucky to be able to use their swimming-pool water - which has very low levels of chlorine in winter - to give to their pets. But those who chose to ignore the warnings and filled drinking bowls with the tap supply saw their dogs suffer stomach problems.
The situation became desperate for one Albir resident who owns several horses.
She was unable to provide them with drinking water, especially in the quantities required by these animals.
Eventually she was told by specialists that her swimmingpool water was suitable for the animals to drink.
On Monday, Alfaz town hall informed that water in Albir was drinkable and that supplies in the town centre could be used for personal hygiene.
La Nucía also informed residents on Monday that water was suitable for personal hygiene but not for human consumption or cooking.
Alfaz and La Nucia ok - but not Altea
On Wednesday evening, all restrictions were lifted in Alfaz del Pi and La Nucía, where the water was once again suitable to drink.
However, despite initial tests by local authorities showing significant improvements in the Altea supply, the public health department did not lift the restrictions.
A decree released by Altea town hall on Wednesday evening extended the ban until further notice.
At the time of going to press yesterday (Thursday), there had been no further ad- vice in Altea, where residents have gone more than one week without supplies.
Due to the rumours regarding the convenience to begin using tap water in Altea, residents are advised to consult the town hall website (www.altea.es) for official and reliable information. Costa Blanca News will also inform of any changes on our website (www.costa-news.es).
Under fire
PP opposition councillors at Altea town hall criticised the local PSOE mayor, Jaume Lloret, for not issuing the warning before.
According to the opposition, the mayor was made aware of the situation 24 hours earlier - as were Alfaz del Pi authorities - yet the ban in Altea was not issued until Friday.
To avoid similar problems in future, both Altea and Alfaz del Pi council will be demanding the Marina Baja water consortium builds drinking water treatment plants in their municipalities.
Benidorm has its own plant, which is the main reason why the water restrictions have not affected the town.
Reservoirs replenished
The Amadorio reservoir in Villajoyosa has seen its meagre 600,000 cubic metres of water increase to 3.51 million in just over one week.
The reservoir continues to receive an average 4,500 litres per second from the Font de L'Arc, its main supply. Experts say that if this supply continues, the Amadorio could reach 50% of its capacity (8 million cubic hectometres) in the spring.
The reservoir in Guadalest yesterday (Thursday) reported 5.07 million cubic metres, more than twice the amount stocked before the downpours (2.35 million). The reservoir is now at 38.5% of its total capacity.