Three days old — and already leaking: New village school in Caimari under scrutiny

Three days after the opening it is already leaking: Caimari faces a Pyrrhic start

Three days ago the new school in Caimari was handed over in a festive ceremony (Tres días y ya gotea: la nueva escuela de Caimari tiene filtraciones en el techo): speeches, cake, photos in front of the entrance — village elders applauded, children ran around, church bells lifted the mood. And then the rain came. A short but heavy shower on Saturday evening was enough for puddles to form in the newly opened gym and for water to run down the wall in one classroom. The village umbrellas became more important overnight than the souvenir photos.

The key question: How could this happen — on a €4.8 million project?

The central question everyone is asking now is: How can a building that was just completed and handed over for around €4.8 million not be watertight in a typical Mallorcan summer rain? The construction project covers roughly 4,070 square meters and provides space for a kindergarten, an elementary school (225 places in total) and a nursery for 24 children (Poco después de la inauguración: por qué la nueva escuela primaria de Caimari ya tiene filtraciones). Years of discussions, waiting lists and financial debates were behind the project's success. That makes the start with wet trainers and improvised cleaning all the more painful.

What hasn't been discussed much so far

Apart from the puddles, there are several points that are often missed in public discussion: Who carried out the acceptance inspection and on what basis? Were waterproofing tests carried out completely after completion or only spot-checked, according to the Código Técnico de la Edificación DB-HS waterproofing requirements? Did many subcontractors work under tight deadlines — a known risk for defects — or was an experienced local firm responsible?

Another often forgotten aspect: Mallorca has experienced stronger and more sudden rainfall events in recent years (AEMET climate change reports for Spain and the Balearic Islands). Were climatic variations considered in planning and drainage? Finally, the question of liability is not only legally relevant but determines how quickly the rooms can be used again: Is the construction company liable under the Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación (LOE) on construction liability, the architect, the municipality, or does a warranty/insurance cover it?

Concrete measures: What must happen now

In the short term, it is about safety and the ability to hold classes: rooms must be dried, electrical systems checked and potentially contaminated floors remediated. Parents and teachers need quick answers: Where will physical education take place if the gym is out of use? Are there emergency alternatives in the municipality or must classes be temporarily accommodated elsewhere?

In the medium term, transparency is required. Our proposal for a pragmatic to-do list:

1) Immediate appointment of independent experts — an external engineering team should review planning documents, execution protocols and the construction acceptance report. The result must be made public.

2) Clear deadlines and contact persons — the municipality should set concrete dates: When will repairs be completed? Who is the responsible site manager? Parent representatives demand a binding time frame, not vague statements.

3) Organize interim solutions — movement hours, alternative rooms and safety must be arranged. Certified mobile halls, community centers or cooperation with neighboring towns are options.

4) Review liability and insurance issues — warranty, insurances and possible defect claims against subcontractors must be clarified quickly so that costs do not burden the municipality or parents in the long term.

Why the Caimari municipality must pay close attention now

It's not just about repaired joints. It's about trust: the people of Caimari waited a long time in the hope of better learning spaces; they applauded at the opening — and now expect that mistakes are not dismissed with the typical administrative phrase "will be reviewed". A transparent process strengthens trust; delayed responses feed frustration and speculation.

Practically, this means: public meetings, published expert reports, direct consultation hours with the site management and a clear timetable. An empty promise slate helps no one; concrete measures and visible results do.

A final look ahead: Opportunities in the crisis

As annoying as the start is, the situation also offers opportunities. If the municipality now acts consistently, quickly and transparently, it can demonstrate that local politics can take action. The project can then become more than just a building — a long-term gain for Caimari: safe spaces for children, more offers for families and a school that stands for quality.

The people here know the sound of olive trees in the wind, the scent of damp dust after a summer rain and the patience of a small community. They expect no perfection, but they do expect responsibility. At the next downpour, the children should stay dry — that is more than a material demand. It is a promise to an entire village community.

We will continue to follow up and report on inspection reports, repair plans and the next rainy days.