With Tenerife facing a water crisis, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council’s plenary session yesterday unanimously agreed to address the issue and find solutions to prevent future water shortages in the city. The motion put forward by CC and PP includes a call for the State Government to expand the existing desalination plant in the capital and to build a new one in El Chorrillo. It also demands funding in the upcoming general budget to increase the capacity of the Cueva Bermeja desalination plant from 28,000 cubic meters to desalinate 50,000 cubic meters.
The Council also urges the Tenerife Island Council to take over the management of the Buenos Aires treatment plant once the expansion works are completed. This move aims to address the current anomalous situation where the plant, no longer within the capital, receives water from La Laguna and El Rosario. Additionally, there is a push for the development of a second treatment plant in El Chorrillo, with financing sought from the State.
Highlighting the importance of expanding the desalination plant, Councilor for Public Services, Carlos Tarife, emphasised the necessity to meet the water demand of the growing Southwest district and ensure water security for years to come. Works for the Southwest are set to commence this year and are projected to be finalised by January 2026, benefiting 50,000 residents who currently rely on water from various canals.
Furthermore, the motion calls for the swift completion of the expansion works at the Buenos Aires Wastewater Treatment Plant to achieve zero discharge in the city. This investment of 22 million euros is essential to address Santa Cruz’s environmental challenges.
In a separate development, the PSOE presented a motion in support of refinery employees amidst concerns over potential job losses following the transfer of operations to the port of Granadilla. Worker representative Alejandro Montelongo sought the Council’s support to lobby the State for assistance and job security guarantees for the affected employees.
