Local councils in the Spanish region of Costa Blanca have begun the mass distribution of bottled water after the drinking of tap water was banned a week prior due to excess salt levels.
Residents said it was even impossible to brush their teeth due to its saltiness.
The higher level of seawater in domestic supplies in Benitatxell was caused by the drought.
Miguel Angel García, the Benitatxell mayor, said in a statement: “Supplies can only be used for cleaning and personal hygiene. You cannot drink, cook or wash food with tap water”.
He added that the drought of the last two years had caused the salinisation of the aquifer operated by the Teulada-Benitatxell water consortium. He confirmed that the levels had accumulated as a result of marine intrusion and that no toxic chemicals had been recorded.
“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.
Local councils have now been pictured handing out 6.4 litre bottles of La Serreta water (sold at 37p a bottle), from a spring in the Font de Figuera, The Olive Press reported. Nine pallets containing 1,080 bottles were distributed in under two hours.
“The help is appreciated because you can’t even brush your teeth with the tap water any more because it is so salty,” said Dolores, a resident at the pick-up point.
“You have to rinse with bottled water and if you take a shower, then your skin is sticky.”
Businesses in the region have also been affected, with a coffee shop owner saying that also had to switch to using bottled water, which is more expensive.
Miguel Angel García, the Benitatxell mayor said that drinking water tanks are to be installed at four points where people will be able to fill up bottles. He also said he believed the council had acted in “record time”, despite the tap water ban coming into force on August 9.
The neighbouring Teulada-Moraira introduced similar water restrictions on August 2. A meeting was held on Wednesday to work out where the tanks could be placed, 12 days after the ban started. Some tanks will have a capacity of a thousand litres each.
A third Alicante province municipality – Parcent – has warned residents that restrictions are imminent and appealed to people to use water sparingly.
In Benitatxell, 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.”