Vélez-Málaga issues a decree on water use: green light for partial refilling of swimming pools and watering of green areas

Vélez-Málaga/With summer just around the corner, local councils in the province are announcing their municipal decrees regulating the permitted use of water in response to the severe drought situation, a circumstance dictated by the Drought Commission in March. In the case of Vélez-Málaga, residents of the capital of Axarquía will enjoy a summer without water cuts for the first time in two years. Additionally, the Council has green-lighted the partial refilling of swimming pools, watering of green areas, will allow public foot washes on the beach, drinking fountains for people or animals, and street washing.

The storms of 2025 changed the landscape across the province, especially in Axarquía. With the La Viñuela reservoir at 50% (83 cubic hectometers), the Drought Commission of the Andalusian Mediterranean Basins eased restrictions, setting a maximum allocation of 225 liters per person per day in the eastern region.

"The local government has deemed it necessary to inform the citizens, especially due to the arrival of the summer period and the significant increase in temperatures, factors that may consequently lead to greater use of available water resources," the official statement from the Council collected.

Therefore, the highest municipal body has announced the list of permitted uses of potable water, beyond its personal and daily use in activities like drinking, cooking, and hygiene. In this regard, the use for watering gardens, orchards, parks, and green areas, both public and private, will be accepted, provided that the irrigation system is preferably by drip or sprinkler, and during nighttime hours.

In other cases, only the use of non-potable water is authorized. Washing vehicles at authorized establishments, ornamental fountains, public foot washes on the beach, drinking fountains for people or animals, and street washing of roads, sidewalks, and building exteriors are some of the also permitted possibilities.

Pools and Showers

Regarding swimming pools, from June 1 to September 30, 2025, partial refilling will be allowed for both public and private facilities that have a water recirculation system, in the necessary amounts to compensate for evaporation losses, filter cleaning, and to ensure water sanitary quality. In terms of new infrastructure, the first filling or the corresponding coverage for rehabilitation or modification works of the pool for sanitary reasons will be allowed.

In educational centers, the complete or partial filling of removable pools for children's bathing will be authorized, as well as in showers at sports facilities or swimming pools where it is mandatory for sanitary reasons, as well as the use of specific beach showers for people with limited mobility.

Non-compliance with the permitted uses in the first point will constitute an infraction in accordance with the Municipal Ordinances of the City Council.

Regarding the implemented measures, which will be applicable as long as the provisions agreed by the Andalusian regional government and the Vélez Council are in force, "all citizens, organizations, companies, and other social groups are urged to make a rational, responsible, and solidary use of such a scarce resource as water. Likewise, a collective and committed effort is requested to reduce the consumption of potable water, even if it entails certain inconveniences or discomforts," the official document specifies.

The City Council commits to creating new affordable housing for young people

This Friday, the ordinary May Plenary session was held in Vélez-Málaga, during which the municipal Urban Planning Councilor, Celestino Rivas, explained that the City Council "is working on creating affordable housing for young people."

"We are going to proceed with the application of the emergency housing law decree 1/25. This means, we are going to make affordable homes, clearing lands to create properties for young people, they will be on equipment lands and with low-cost rent. The Junta did it, and the delegate from Málaga, Patricia Navarro, gave us the green light. This is starting now," the councilor expressed.

For his part, the mayor of Vélez, Jesús Lupiáñez, added: "We continue with the commitment, which was to make a minimum of 50 houses a year, if we end up making more, it will fulfill more of what was said."