34 urgent projects approved, public awareness campaign launched, tourism sector overlooked


The Water Council of Tenerife Island sanctioned a water emergency on the island following the Cabildo’s directive after commencing the process last Friday during a plenary session. The emergency entails the initiation of 34 urgently required projects, including the installation of five mobile desalination plants, along with a public awareness initiative. Despite this, there is no reference to the tourism industry in the documentation, even though estimations from the Canarian Business Association of Environmental Consultants suggest that a five-star hotel consumes approximately 400 litres of water per guest per day, up to four times more than a local resident.

The primary objective of this measure, as outlined by the Cabildo, is “to ensure water access for agricultural purposes and secure human consumption needs, particularly during the summer months.” The water emergency declaration specifically allows for the provision of water to the agriculture sector and identifies five critical emergency projects related to mobile desalination plants. These plants are expected to “enhance water quality, as well as desalination processes, enabling the utilization of treated water in elevated terrains and urban areas.”

The five desalination units will be set up in the Güímar industrial zone, Mesa del Mar (to supply desalinated water to La Laguna and Tacoronte), Valle de Guerra (in the Northeast), Granadilla, and Fonsalía.

Additionally, the formation of the Insular Drought Committee has been approved, comprising representatives from all political factions within the island institution, members from the agriculture sector, and relevant authorities. Moreover, a technical-administrative coordination mechanism will be established to streamline necessary actions and foster public campaigns to raise awareness about responsible and efficient water usage.

Engagement with the tourism sector, ongoing discussions

While the Cabildo moves to provide desalinated and recycled water to central regions of the island and urges residents to use water responsibly, the tourism industry has not been called upon yet to contribute to this crisis situation. Rosa Dávila, the president of Cabildo, admitted on Tuesday that discussions are underway with both the tourism and industrial sectors to allocate water from their desalination facilities to aid agriculture in preserving their crops.

In Tenerife, the year 2023, post-pandemic, marked a significant recovery for the tourism sector, achieving the second-highest visitor arrival numbers in history, with over 14 million tourists. During that period, Tenerife welcomed 5.6 million visitors, amidst a resident population of just under a million. Forecasts indicate a continued rise in tourism activities on the island.

Simultaneously, the island experienced an unusually dry and warm year, leading to escalated water consumption and depletion of water reserves. Data from the Cabildo reveals that as of February 1, 2024, amidst a significant portion of the regular rainy season having already passed, the storage levels at the Balten reservoirs stood at 34.6%, markedly lower compared to the previous year’s 52%. The situation did not ameliorate in the subsequent months. As indicated by the State Meteorological Agency’s report made public this Wednesday, February witnessed the highest warmth levels recorded in the Canary Islands historical records and ranked as the 13th driest month.

Aquifers’ status: “Contaminated and critically low levels”

Head of the Canarian Business Association of Environmental Consultants, Juan Rumeu, issued a cautionary statement during a radio interview on Monday regarding the responses linked to the declaration of a water emergency, expressing concern that these measures “have been delayed” and expressing apprehension that the situation may worsen. This is not only due to the projected population increase in the upcoming years but also attributed to the impact of tourist activities.

Furthermore, he highlighted that the aquifers on the island “are not just below the minimum levels; many of them are contaminated with nitrates and untreated sewage.” In the absence of universal regulations encompassing all municipalities, he warns that “the aquifers will continue to deplete, eventually leading to a water crisis.”

Describing it as “negligence,” the President of the Canarian Business Association of Environmental Consultants criticised municipalities where water networks suffer losses of up to 60%, blaming local councils for failing to supervise the water service providers effectively.

Pointing specifically at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it was highlighted that “32 million litres of untreated water are discharged into the ocean daily.”

An In-Depth Look at the 34 Emergency Declaration Measures

  1. Conclusion of the expansion works on the Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Plant: Urging the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge to expedite the ongoing works. Meanwhile, assess the feasibility of increasing the treatment capacity of the operational Wastewater Treatment Plant by partially activating the Cabo Llanos pumping station.
  2. Enhancing the desalinated water production at the Metropolitan Desalination Plant in Santa Cruz.
  3. Activating the Tertiary Treatment Plant at the El Chorrillo Wastewater Treatment Plant, facilitating the distribution of high-quality reclaimed water from Santa Cruz to the northeast region.
  4. Introducing reclaimed water to the Güímar Valley: Constructing and commissioning the Reverse Osmosis desalination plant in Güímar to expedite the delivery of reclaimed water to the Güímar Valley, prior to the completion of the planned infrastructure.
  5. Ramping up potable water production at the Portable Desalination Plant in the Güímar Valley for potential water supply redirection to agricultural irrigation.
  6. Supplying reclaimed water to the Copabona network: Connecting the Santa Cruz-Arona reclaimed water pipeline to the Copabona network via pumping and piping to Pozo Abejones.
  7. Reclaimed water supply in the Abona region: Interconnection of the Los Letrados Wastewater Treatment Plant with the SC-Arona transport line through piping and pumping.
  8. Expansion of the Granadilla Desalination Plant: Boosting desalinated water production capacity at the Granadilla plant by installing additional reverse osmosis modules or upgrading membrane types until maximum plant capacity is reached.
  9. Tertiary Treatment at the Adeje – Arona Wastewater Treatment Plant: Finalising the desalination process with reverse osmosis modules.
  10. Expanding the Adeje – Arona Desalination Plant: Installing extra reverse osmosis modules for increased production.
  11. Granadilla EDAM Expansion: Increase in desalinated water production at the Fonsalía EDAM through the installation of additional reverse osmosis modules or replacement of membrane types, until the plant’s capacity is covered.
  12. Commissioning of the Western Wastewater Treatment Plant and Tertiary Treatment implementation: Accelerating the launch of the WWTP and deploying RO Modules for 3,000 m³/day.
  13. Transferring water from the Lomo del Balo reservoir to the Coagisora network.
  14. Enhancing the EDAS ARIPE Desalination Plant: Optimising the module 4 cut of EDAS Aripe by achieving a minimum of 50% cut, with at least 4 lines and 16 batteries.
  15. Reuse of the La Orotava Wastewater Treatment Plant: Evaluating the tertiary treatment process and executing necessary actions for maximum reclaimed water utilisation in the Orotava Valley region.
  16. EDRAR in Valle de Guerra: Initiating actions to increase the volume of reclaimed water in the Northeast region.
  17. Installation of one or two Portable Desalination Plants in the Northeast water system (Valle Guerra and/or Mesa del Mar), alongside promoting the La Laguna Desalination Plant project.
  18. Optimising EDAM production: Investigating options for utilising the granted self-supply titles for potential surpluses to be redirected to other users. Encouraging public-private cooperation for the efficient utilisation of existing desalination infrastructure (including surplus management at the Buenavista Golf EDAM).
  19. Implementing necessary investments outlined in municipal supply service investment plans to enhance hydraulic network efficiency, thereby reducing water losses within supply networks.
  20. Exploring reinstating “out of service” well and gallery facilities or increasing their exploitation rates, considering hydrological risks and economic implications.
  21. Promoting water swaps to alleviate water shortages in medium and high elevations.
  22. Carrying out Tertiary Treatment (desalination) works at the Buenos Aires Santa Cruz de Tenerife Wastewater Treatment Plant.
  23. Advancing the EDAM project in Valle Guerra.
  24. Progressing with the Güímar EDAM project.
  25. Expanding the La Orotava WWTP and implementing Tertiary Treatment in the initial expansion phase.
  26. Commencing the Connection
    • Expansion of the water transport pipeline connecting the Orotava Valley WWTP to Isla Baja.
    • Implementation of the second phase of the Sanitation and Purification project for Isla Baja (regional WWTP of Isla Baja).
    • Renovation of the enhanced water transport conduit from the Adeje-Arona WWTP to the Western expansion from Fañabé to Santiago del Teide.
    • Assessment of Hydrological Planning concerning the alteration of some key distribution networks to be repurposed for conveying enhanced water for agricultural purposes. Examination of the “new” regional equilibrium post the integration of new industrial production facilities, designed to streamline the allocation of traditional resources to meet the needs of medium and high levels.
    • Necessary interventions in the Tágara-Trevejos transport system to enhance the reliability of supplies in the Vilaflor and Abona areas.
    • Implementation of the essential investments outlined in the local sanitation investment strategies to boost the proportion of connections to the sewage system and the amount of treated and enhanced water.
    • Continuation of the waterproofing initiative for water reservoirs in Tenerife.
    • Establishment of the Pumping Station and conduit from Balsa Valle Molina-Mesa Mota. (Las Peñuelas)
    • Formation of a technical-administrative coordination mechanism between CIATF and BALTEN, involving the necessary technical and administrative departments of the Cabildo.