Palma clears 30,000 drains to stop rain flooding

Nearly 30,000 road drains across Palma are being cleaned before the rain arrives, in a bid to stop streets flooding and water gathering on the road. Emaya began the work on Friday, 25 September 2026. Palma City Council reviews the programme every year.

Mud poses the bigger threat

Fallen leaves often build up in drains during autumn, but Emaya says they do not necessarily stop them working properly. The bigger danger to water flow comes from excess mud and solid material collecting inside.

The drains have a large inner chamber designed to catch rubbish and make it easier to remove during maintenance. That allows the drainage system to keep operating normally even when waste has built up.

Cleaning targets the dirtiest drains

How often each drain is cleaned depends on where it is, its surroundings and the amount of rubbish it collects. The most heavily soiled drains get two deep cleans a year, while those with medium levels of dirt are cleaned once a year and the least affected every two years.

The work is part of Palma’s rainwater network, which runs through 600 kilometres of pipes across the city.

Topics: Flooding · Weather · Environment · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com