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Areas Urbanism & territory, Tourism and Economic activities Environment

Homes and businesses in Sant Ferran get monthly, use-based water bills

Telectura formenteraFormentera's Office of Environment has teamed up with Aqualia to announce that from March, and pending final upgrades to a system of smart water metres, bills sent to homes and businesses on Sant Ferran's water grid will not only be issued on a monthly basis, they will now reflect exact consumption.

The system, whose use of telelecturas (lectura means “reading”) means that real-time checks of water metres can be done daily without an agent travelling to the site in question, makes possible remote, automatic readings which are forwarded directly to the Aqualia office. The water metres emit a signal every eight seconds. The information on water use travels to a computer at command central, where another programme is deployed to automatically calculate billing information.

The system provides homes and businesses a clearer picture of their water use and associated costs. Consumers, who now have the option to make monthly payments, are better able to spot things like billing problems, possible leaks and unusually high consumption.

No rate changes will take place as part of the tweak.

Aqualia reminds its customers that an associated app, “Smart aqua”lets them remotely check water use at their home and, likewise, that everyone has the option to receive water bills by email. Customers can opt for e-billing, which has the same validity as a normal bill, by calling 902 18 60 18 or on Aqualia's local web site:
www.aqualia.com/ca/web/aqualia-formentera

This week, 149 schoolchildren get lesson in composting

foto curs compostThe Formentera Council's Office of Environment has teamed up with Amics de la Terra to coordinate the third round to date of composting workshops at the island's three primary schools in la Mola, Sant Ferran and Sant Ferran.

By offering tips on how to recycle and properly separate organic rubbish so it can be turned into fertiliser for gardens or local fields, the workshops aim to encourage 149 participating pupils to do their part in keeping waste out of landfills.

Juanjo Torres of Amics de la Terra facilitates the courses, part of Formentera's recently launched strategy on waste management which focuses on slashing the amount of rubbish treated on the island and thus skirting the environmental and cash burden of hauling it to the tip at Ca Na Putxa.

In its ongoing commitment to reach out to Formentera residents about the need for responsible waste disposal, moving forward the Council will roll out two additional composting workshops — this time for regular islanders.

The third day of the in-school composting effort will play out tomorrow (Thursday, February 22) from 9.30am to 11.30am at CEIP Mestre Lluís Andreu.

Formentera expands swimming zones at beaches and coves

foto centre nautic obres1Formentera's Office of Environment reports that bidding has begun to enlist a company in placing buoys across Formentera's coastal waters.

The Council oversees yearly efforts to place buoys at beaches, coves and swimming areas. This year, the effort has been expanded to include Punta Rasa and es Caló d'en Trui (Cala Saona), es Caló de Sant Agustí, es Pujols, Punta Prima, es Caló des Mort (Migjorn) and Llevant. The expansion is aimed at creating zones where snorkelers can safely enjoy nearby undersea flora and fauna.

Environment secretary Daisee Aguilera noted that beaches are principally intended for swimmers. She added that buoying operations, in addition to promoting healthier undersea habitats, are about “showcasing the island's most iconic spaces by safeguarding nearby meadows of posidonia seagrass, home to scores of living things”.

Aguilera pointed out that the Council is limited in terms of the action it can take to prevent hordes of yachts accumulating on the island's coastline. The secretary described the buoys as “boundaries in an area often overrun by watercraft that come too close and imperil swimmers” and asserted they had “no impact on seagrass meadows below”.

The department has a yearly budget of €53,261 (VAT included) for buoying efforts. When granted, the contract will last two years with possibility of one two-year extension. The deadline to apply is Monday, February 26. Full details on the offer are available at http://www.caib.es/eboibfront/mob/visor.do?lang=ca&mode=view&idEnviament=605390

Asbestos removal drive in full swing

foto recollida uralitaThis week Formentera's Office of Environment will continue a push to encourage islanders to remove uralite (or more commonly, asbestos) from their homes.

The first days of the effort saw crews focussed on removing the offending material and asphalt cloth in nine areas near rubbish containers. Home visits kicked off this Thursday.

Environment secretary Daisee Aguilera was enthusiastic about the interest Formenterencs have demonstrated in ridding their homes of the hazardous material. She noted this year about forty households have requested the service, which involves employees from an authorised firm overseeing controlled pick-up and treatment.

The Council helps out households by partially reimbursing costs of removal and transport of the asbestos to the Spanish mainland, not to mention by providing the special sacks used in the process. Participating renters and homeowners are charged a fee based on the sort and amount of material removed, with the final sum reflecting the Council's collaboration.

The asbestos-removal initiative was agreed on at the Formentera Council's August plenary assembly.

Crews begin push to remove uralite

Recollida fibrociment uralitaThis week Formentera's Office of Environment will continue rolling out a campaign to remove uralite from island homes. Uralite is a generic term for a substance that is often more commonly referred to in the English-speaking world as asbestos.

The first days of the effort saw crews focussed on removing the offending material and asphalt cloth surrounding nine rubbish containers. Thursday they began visiting homes.

Environment secretary Daisee Aguilera was enthusiastic about islanders' interest in ridding their homes of the hazardous material, reporting this year about forty households have requested the service, which involves employees from an authorised firm overseeing controlled pick-up and treatment”.

The Council helps out households by partially reimbursing costs of removal and transport of the asbestos to the Spanish mainland, not to mention by providing the special sacks used in the process. Participating renters and homeowners are charged a fee based on the sort and amount of material removed, with the Council’s contribution deducted from the final amount billed.

The asbestos-removal initiative was agreed on in the Formentera Council's August plenary assembly.

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Balears Life Posidonia

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