Ibiza is preparing to enter a new phase in the management of its water services, with the city moving towards a new framework for drinking-water supply and sewerage after years operating under an extended contract.

The development was highlighted by Ibiza Town Hall's councillor for the Environment, Jordi Grivé, during the Spain Smart Water Summit 2026 in Madrid, where he presented the challenges of managing water in an island territory facing significant seasonal pressure.

The Town Hall has already awarded the new contract for drinking-water supply and sewerage services and is now completing the formalisation process. According to the council, the new framework will provide a basis for increased investment, technological modernisation and the progressive renewal of essential infrastructure.

A Water System Under Seasonal Pressure

Managing water in Ibiza presents particular challenges because demand changes dramatically between winter and summer.

The Town Hall says the island's population can triple during the tourist season, placing significantly greater pressure on infrastructure during the months when demand is highest.

At the same time, around 95% of Ibiza's current water supply comes from desalination.

This makes the condition and efficiency of the distribution network particularly important. Water produced through desalination still needs to be transported, stored and distributed efficiently, while losses from ageing infrastructure can place additional pressure on the overall system.

Digitalisation Already Underway

The council says the transformation of the city's water system has already begun.

In recent years, Ibiza has increased the digitalisation and monitoring of its networks, with the aim of obtaining more detailed information about how the system operates.

The municipality has also carried out infrastructure improvements and is completing work intended to reduce seawater infiltration into the sewerage network.

The council has also made use of two groundwater springs, which it says provide water that can be reused each year.

Resources from the Sustainable Tourism Tax have additionally been allocated to projects connected with the water cycle, directing part of the revenue generated by tourism towards infrastructure that experiences particularly high demand during the summer.

A New Contract for the City's Water Services

The new municipal contract is expected to provide a more stable framework for investment in the city's water infrastructure.

According to Grivé, one of the main priorities will be improving the performance of the distribution network, reducing water losses and modernising pipes, installations and control systems.

The aim is to move away from a system that primarily responds to problems once they occur and towards greater preventative management.

More detailed monitoring should allow operators to identify anomalies, locate potential losses and detect problems before they develop into service disruptions.

Reducing Leaks and Improving Efficiency

The condition of the underground network is a central part of the new strategy.

The municipality says years of limited investment have left parts of the network requiring progressive renewal.

Replacing ageing pipes and improving control systems should help reduce leaks and breakdowns while making more efficient use of each cubic metre of water available to the city.

For an island where much of the supply depends on desalination, reducing losses within the distribution network is particularly important.

Modernising Sewerage and Rainwater Networks

The new approach also includes improvements to sewerage and rainwater infrastructure.

The municipality wants to continue modernising these networks and progressively separate them where necessary.

The aim is to improve the capacity of the system during periods of heavy rainfall, reduce pressure on the sewerage network and help address problems such as overflows and unpleasant odours.

The council also sees this work as part of the city's wider preparation for periods of intense rainfall.

Reclaimed Water as a Future Priority

Water reuse is another major part of the municipality's longer-term plans.

Grivé identified reclaimed water as one of Ibiza's main opportunities for developing a more circular water system, particularly for uses where drinking water is not necessary.

Potential applications include gardens, sports facilities and other urban uses.

The idea is to reduce the use of drinking water for these purposes by providing an alternative source where it is safe and appropriate to do so.

For an island with limited natural water resources, the municipality argues that water should be reused wherever possible.

Ibiza's Water Challenge Extends Beyond the City

The changes being discussed by Ibiza Town Hall form part of a much wider effort to strengthen water security across the island.

The Balearic Government is progressing the expansion of the Santa Eulària desalination plant, with a maximum works budget of €9.99 million including VAT, alongside additional funding for project management and safety coordination. The project is intended to increase operational capacity and improve the system's ability to respond to periods of high demand or potential breakdowns.

A modular desalination plant at Sant Antoni has also been put into operation. ABAQUA says the installation can contribute up to 1,000 cubic metres of desalinated water per day and is intended to reduce pressure on Ibiza's aquifers.

Other projects being developed by the Govern include plans for a new desalination plant in Sant Josep, water-regeneration facilities at Can Bossa and Ses Païsses, improvements to the high-level distribution network and a proposed 60,000 m³ regulating reservoir.

Building Greater Storage Capacity

The island's water infrastructure is also being developed to provide greater resilience in the event of high demand or interruptions.

The Govern says the existing high-level storage capacity is currently around 40,000 m³, below the daily production capacity of the three existing desalination plants.

The planned regulating reservoir would initially add up to 60,000 m³ of additional storage, equivalent to approximately 24 hours of production from the current three plants and the future fourth plant once operational.

The project is currently at the technical-planning stage, with the Government having begun the contracting process for technical assistance to prepare the detailed project. It is therefore not yet an operational reservoir.

Preparing Ibiza for Future Demand

For Ibiza Town Hall, the next stage of water management is intended to bring infrastructure renewal, digitalisation, leak reduction, water reuse and improved rainwater management into a more coordinated system.

The challenge is not limited to meeting today's demand. The infrastructure must also cope with the substantial seasonal increase in population and the changing demands placed on the island's water system.

The new municipal contract is expected to provide the framework for that work in Ibiza city, while the wider projects being developed across the island are intended to strengthen the security and resilience of Ibiza's water supply as a whole.

A Long-Term Approach to Water

Water infrastructure is largely hidden beneath Ibiza's streets, but its importance becomes particularly visible during periods of peak demand, drought or heavy rainfall.

The new phase outlined by the Town Hall focuses on making the system more efficient, better monitored and less dependent on reactive repairs.

The formalisation of the new municipal water contract will be the next step in that process, followed by the investments and infrastructure improvements planned for the coming years.