Residents living around Ibiza Airport are asking the Balearic Government for further cleaning and maintenance work on the Torrent de sa Font, saying vegetation and rubbish have accumulated along a section of the watercourse near their homes.

The request has been made by the Can Frígoles residents' association, with support from the neighbourhood associations of Can Palleu and sa Caleta.

The residents say they have repeatedly asked the authorities to clear the affected section ahead of the autumn rainy period.

Residents say vegetation has built up

The section in question runs between Ibiza Airport and the Sant Josep road, before reaching the dispersed settlement of sa Caleta.

According to the Can Frígoles residents' association, the part of the torrent closest to the airport perimeter is maintained, while the section further upstream has not received the level of maintenance they are requesting.

Residents say they have asked for clearing and routine maintenance at least two or three times during the past year.

They report that vegetation and rubbish have accumulated in parts of the channel as the wetter months approach.

Govern confirms it received the request

The Balearic Government's Conselleria del Mar confirmed that it received a request from the Can Frígoles residents' association on June 5 concerning cleaning of the Torrent de sa Font.

The association was told that the request would be assessed by technicians working under the contract for maintenance, conservation and improvement of watercourses on Ibiza.

The response means the request is formally known to the administration rather than being a new complaint raised for the first time this week.

The Government says work has already been carried out

The Govern says maintenance technicians have already carried out cleaning work on the torrent at what it describes as the most sensitive points.

It also says further assessments will continue and that additional interventions will be undertaken in other sections where necessary.

This is an important distinction: the current dispute is therefore about whether additional maintenance is needed along further sections of the torrent, rather than whether the watercourse receives no maintenance at all.

Who is responsible for the torrent?

Sant Josep Town Hall has said that responsibility for the torrent falls under the Balearic Government.

The Balearic administration's own water-management information confirms that the regional hydraulic administration is responsible for managing and controlling the public hydraulic domain.

The Balearic Water Agency also has functions that include the conservation and maintenance of torrents and watercourses.

Why residents are raising the issue now

The request comes as Ibiza approaches the autumn period, when heavier rainfall can increase the amount of water moving through normally dry or low-flow channels.

Residents say the accumulation of vegetation and rubbish makes the condition of the channel an increasingly important concern before the rainy season.

Their request is focused on clearing and maintaining the watercourse along its full route, rather than concentrating only on the section immediately alongside the airport.

The torrent reaches es Codolar

The Torrent de sa Font runs through Sant Josep and reaches the coast at es Codolar.

That gives the condition of the watercourse importance beyond the residential area around the airport.

The downstream section ultimately connects with the coastline near the Ses Salines Natural Park.

Separate concerns over wastewater

The request for clearing comes at the same time as a separate controversy involving the torrent.

Authorities opened an investigation in August following reports of possible wastewater discharges into the Torrent de sa Font, allegedly linked to the airport's treatment plant.

The investigation is still open.

As of September, the precautionary measures remained in force, including a prohibition on Aena discharging water into the torrent while the investigation continues. Aena has also submitted its own analytical results for inclusion in the proceedings.

Those proceedings concern water quality and possible discharges. They are separate from the residents' request for vegetation and rubbish clearance.

Aena's position on earlier water concerns

Aena has previously said that its airport wastewater treatment plant treats water generated by the airport and that treated water is reused for irrigation.

The company has also indicated that occasional water can escape from the system, while the authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the recent incidents.

No final finding establishing responsibility for the reported discharges has been announced.

The airport expansion connection

The Torrent de sa Font has also become part of the wider discussion surrounding the proposed remodelling and expansion of Ibiza Airport.

Technical planning documents published by Aena have included proposals affecting the final section of the torrent alongside the airport boundary.

One of the preliminary proposals envisages partially or completely burying the final section of the watercourse.

That remains part of the planning material rather than a completed project.

Residents want the entire route considered

For Can Frígoles and the neighbouring associations, the immediate priority is more basic: regular maintenance along the torrent.

They argue that clearing should not be limited to the part immediately beside the airport but should cover the channel further upstream and the sections approaching the residential area.

The request has particular significance for residents because the affected section lies close to homes and roads in the airport area.

The next step

The Balearic Government says its technicians will continue assessing the torrent and will carry out further interventions where necessary.

For the residents, the priority is to see additional clearing work completed before the autumn rains.

The Torrent de sa Font is therefore currently the subject of several separate issues: routine maintenance, concerns over possible wastewater discharges and its potential treatment within future airport development plans.

For now, the residents' immediate request is for more cleaning of the watercourse before the wetter season begins.