Alex Trelinski
BENITATXELL has become the second Costa Blanca town to impose a ban on drinking tap water.
It follows parts of neighbouring Teulada that introduced a prohibition on August 2.
Both municipalities have suffered from high salt levels being present in supplies.
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Benitatxell mayor, Miguel Angel Garcia, said in a statement that tap water is ‘not drinkable’.
“Supplies can only be used for cleaning and personal hygiene. You cannot drink, cook or wash food with tap water.”
He explained that the drought of the last two years had caused the salinisation of the aquifer operated by the Teulada-Benitatxell water consortium.
“Latest tests showed concentrations of the sodium and chloride parameters in the water to be higher than the maximum allowed by public health laws,” he added.
The mayor commented that the high salt levels have accumulated as a result of marine intrusion, and no toxic chemicals have been recorded.
Angel Garcia said: “This situation will continue as long as the weather conditions remain unchanged and until we can allow aquifers to be recharged once the high summer demand for water reduces.”
A third Alicante province municipality- Parcent- has warned residents that restrictions are imminent and appealed for people to use water sparingly.
A possible respite might happen on Wednesday with a forecast for heavy rain predicted for parts of the region.
