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Plan to combat mosquitoes in the south of Mallorca
Areas of the south of Mallorca have always been susceptible to flooding, which is why the land is scattered with windmills. Flood waters in conjunction with rising tempertaures provide the perfect conditions for mosquitos to flourish. These menacing insects can make your life a misery if they consider you to be a particulalry tasty specimen.
But now the government has come up with a plan to combat the proliferation of mosquitoes. In the area of St Jordi, just to the north-west of the airport, agricultural engineers plan to build a series of shallow canals to drain standing water away to the sea. A system of ditches, pumps, wells and pipelines will ensure that excesive water is removed from the area. Water will be transported via an underground pipeline to beyond St Jordi beach on the Playa de Palma and will be released far into the sea to ensure muddy waters do not disturb swimmers and the beach.
The problem of standing waters has worsened during the past few years because of the decrease in farming in the area. Crops used to be irrigated by the flood waters which fall as part of the autumn & winter season. But without crops to irrigate, the water remains where it falls, and becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes when spring arrives with it's warmer temperatures.
This engineering solution has a budget of €250,000, and it is hoped that the project will be completed before next spring - no doubt to the relief of all the businesses and holiday makers on the Playa de Palma.
