The new civic ordinance in Palma imposes a 750 Euro fine for swimming in public fountains. A mother has been recorded putting her son in the fountain at Parc de Ses Fonts, in the Camp Redó neighbourhood, to cool him down during the heatwave.
The heatwave affecting Mallorca has led some citizens to seek desperate solutions to cool off. A mother has been filmed equipping her son with swimwear and putting him to swim in the fountain at Parc de Ses Fonts, in the Palma neighbourhood of Camp Redó. The scene, which has circulated on social media, shows the child splashing around while the mother waits, checking her phone.
What may seem like a summer whim to some is, according to the new civic ordinance from the Palma City Council, an infraction punishable by a 750 Euro fine. The regulation expressly prohibits swimming, washing, or using soap in fountains, ponds, and similar ornamental features. The fine applies regardless of whether the water is potable, as is the case with this fountain.
The Ses Fonts neighbourhood association has expressed its displeasure at the recurrence of such behaviour. In a statement, they denounced that some people "go to the new fountain in the park directly to swim, even using soap or bringing their children in swimwear." They claim that the situation has repeated several days, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees.
The Parc de Ses Fonts was completely renovated last winter and spring, with a municipal investment of over one million Euros. The semicircular fountain is one of the central features of the park, and signs indicating the prohibition of swimming are placed around it. Nevertheless, some bathers reportedly stay for up to half an hour swimming, according to locals.
Beyond the financial penalty, witnesses warn of a serious electrical risk. Public fountains often have submerged pumping and lighting systems, and contact with the water while they are operational can cause electric shocks. The mother, unaware of the danger, remained at the edge while the child swam.
The Palma City Council reminds that such behaviour is not only uncivil but also endangers the physical integrity of those involved. Municipal sources have confirmed that surveillance in the park will be intensified to prevent further incidents. The civic ordinance, approved last year, aims to preserve urban furniture and ensure the safety of citizens.
For the residents of Camp Redó, the situation is particularly bothersome because the park is a family-use space. "We cannot allow a few to ruin what belongs to everyone," said the association. Meanwhile, the heatwave continues, and Palma's public fountains will remain a magnet for those seeking quick relief, even if it is illegal and dangerous.
The 750 Euro fine is not the only penalty provided. The ordinance also punishes other behaviours such as urinating in public or throwing waste outside containers with fines of up to 1,500 Euros. The council hopes that the amount of the fine will deter impromptu swimmers.
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