SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 23rd April. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Aguas de la Cuenca de España (Acuaes) and the Cabildo de Tenerife are investing 73.1 million Euros in various hydraulic infrastructures aimed at eradicating wastewater discharges along the southern coast and providing recycled water for agricultural use.
On Tuesday, the President of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, and the President of Acuaes, Rosa Cobo, inspected the upcoming Wastewater Treatment Plants of Oeste and Los Letrados, located in Guía de Isora and Granadilla de Abona, respectively. These plants are scheduled to commence operations by the end of June.
Accompanying them during the visit were the Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability and Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez; the Mayor of Guía de Isora, Ana Dorta; the Mayor of Santiago del Teide, Emilio Navarro; the Mayor of Granadilla de Abona, Jennifer Miranda; and the Manager of the Tenerife Water Island Council, Javier Davara.
Rosa Dávila expressed gratitude to the Secretary of State for the Environment for his attendance and elaborated that the launch of the Oeste treatment plant will halt sea discharges across the coastline extending from Santiago del Teide to Playa San Juan, while the Los Letrados plant will resolve issues at El Médano and Montaña Pelada beaches.
“We are focused on eradicating irregular discharges that harm our precious coastline and achieving zero wastewater discharges into the sea. Moreover, we are not only addressing discharge problems but also aiming to make this recycled water available for agricultural practices and ensuring an adequate supply for agricultural activities,” she emphasised.
Dávila also mentioned that there will be an increase from 4 million cubic meters to 7 million cubic meters of water provision in Guía de Isora.
“In the Abona region, which has high demand, we are elevating the supply from 300 cubic meters to over 2 million cubic meters. This substantial investment exceeds 73.1 million Euros in total,” she highlighted.
On his part, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Morán, highlighted that “water plays a crucial role in the economic framework of any region, not just as a vital element for life, but in island territories, this strategic sector assumes even greater importance.”
“Over the past few years, we have been executing sanitation and purification projects in Tenerife through collaborative efforts with Acuaes, resulting in an investment of approximately 200 million Euros in infrastructure,” he pointed out.
According to him, “the island serves as a significant environmental asset and a cornerstone for its economic progress and job generation. Environmental quality cannot be dissociated from a water management model and the circular economy.”
“Primarily, we are meeting a critical need by treating urban wastewater, and secondly, by exploring the possibilities of reusing this water through technological advancements that facilitate its usage in water-scarce areas, driving us towards maximising resource reuse,” Morán explained.
“Additionally, waste elements such as sludge can be integrated into the agricultural sector’s production system,” Morán added.
The Secretary of State for the Environment expressed gratitude to the Cabildo, municipal councils, and the construction firms for completing the projects within the stipulated timelines.
COMPLETION OF THE OVERALL PROJECT EXPECTED WITHIN FIVE YEARS
“Though these projects are near completion, there are remaining tasks that need addressing. We have to strategize how to finish the intervention plan for the island jointly within a period not exceeding four to five years. Tenerife can serve as a benchmark for emulation. Any region aspiring to provide advanced solutions to its daily requirements can draw inspiration from the accomplishments here,” he highlighted.
The Cabildo of Tenerife, the Tenerife Island Water Council, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food and Environment (Mapama), through Acuaes, have collaborated to address the sanitation and purification needs of Tenerife and the associated water bodies, ensuring compliance with the objectives outlined in Directive 91/271/EEC of 21st May 1991 and the Hydrological Plan of Tenerife.
The projects of the Tenerife West sanitation system encompass a total investment of 34.3 million Euros, involving the construction of interceptor sewers to collect water from Guía de Isora, Chío, Tamaimo, and Santiago del Teide, conveying it to the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), along with pumping stations along the coast from Los Acantilados de Los Gigantes to Playa San Juan. Furthermore, it includes the construction of the Western WWTP – an investment totalling 12.7 million Euros – and the Playa de San Juan ETBAR.
Conversely, the construction scheme of the Granadilla sanitation system requires an investment of 38.8 million Euros, comprising interceptor sewers gathering water from Granadilla town and San Isidro to convey it to the Los Letrados WWTP, as well as pumping stations along the coast from Los Abrigos to Ensenada Pelada.
Additionally, it involves the construction of the Los Letrados WWTP – with an investment of approximately 14.2 million Euros – which treats and regenerates the wastewater arriving from the interceptor and coastal sewers, and the construction of the Ensenada Pelada ETBAR which transfers water from the entire coast to the Los Letrados WWTP, as outlined by the Cabildo.
