Yesterday, the plenary session of La Laguna approved the proposal to increase water tariffs in the municipality. This will result in a 10.70% final increase in the average monthly bill for citizens, which equates to 2.53 euros, raising the bill from 19 to 21.53 euros per month. This was explained by Ángel Chinea, the Councilor for Water Supply. The proposal received support from the local government (PSOE-CC) and PP, while being opposed by VOX, Drago Verdes Canaria, and Unidas se puede.
The local government justified the increase by highlighting that the rates had not been updated since 2013. They emphasized that the decision was necessary after careful analysis of data and requirements to ensure the services of water supply, sanitation, and purification. Ángel Chinea mentioned that municipal control services deemed the increase necessary, albeit at a lower rate than initially proposed by Teidagua.
The initial proposal by Teidagua suggested a 12.48% increase in the total monthly bill cost. However, the final increase approved in the municipal report yesterday stands at 10.70%. This overall increase is distributed among the rise in the supply rate (16.41%, compared to the 18.7% proposed by Teidagua), purification rate (15.55%), and a decrease in the sanitation rate (-20.86%).
Chinea pointed out that the 10.7% increase is below the 20% rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) since 2013. This increase will translate to a real rise of 2.53 euros in the average monthly bill for 71% of subscribers (with 20 cubic meters), increasing from 19 to 21.53 euros.
Despite this increment, the average water bill in La Laguna will continue to be the lowest among the four major cities in the Canary Islands, with Telde at 26.42 euros, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria at 23.53 euros, and Santa Cruz at 21.58 euros.
Once the proposal for water tariff increase is approved by the plenary session, it will be forwarded to the Price Commission of the Government of the Canary Islands for further evaluation.
The spokesperson for the Socialist Group, Badel Albelo, highlighted the introduction of a social rate in this new increase. This rate ensures that families with limited resources do not have to pay for water, resulting in a monthly charge of zero euros, conditions for which will be defined by the board of directors.
He also praised the water management in the municipality as exemplary, with La Laguna experiencing significantly lower losses in the supply network compared to other municipalities on the island.
The opposition, represented by Rubens Ascanio from Unidas se puede, raised concerns about the lack of control over Teidagua’s accounts by the city council and the absence of a municipal audit conducted by the Intervention. Ascanio requested the file to be kept for further examination.
The Mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, assured that apart from the University’s audit, an external audit on the company is conducted annually. Financial data is submitted every three months to the city council, with detailed economic information shared annually with the Ministry of Finance. He stressed that with the tariff study, an external audit would be required for both the city council and the Canary Islands Price Commission.
Alberto Rodríguez, the spokesperson for Drago, criticised the general rise in water rates without considering specific cases such as large families. On the other hand, Manuel Rodríguez from Vox proposed that the city council cover the increased costs instead of raising the rate. Juan Antonio Molina, the PP spokesperson, supported the increase, deeming it appropriate for the current situation.
The session became tense when the Unidas se puede spokesperson tried to speak without permission, leading to a confrontation with the Mayor. The tension escalated to a point where the Mayor even requested him to leave the room, although he eventually remained.
Another institutional motion by Drago Verdes Canarias, with an amendment from the local government, was approved for the recovery and reuse of greywater and rainwater. Pilot tests will be conducted to assess the installation costs against the resulting savings for this measure to be deemed feasible.
Visocan
Another motion, presented by Drago and Unidas se puede, received institutional approval with an amendment from the local government, aimed at supporting families affected by the management of Visocan, the public housing company of the Canary Islands Government. The motion expressed municipal support to continue with the agreement concerning the 119 homes based on provided information. Visocan was urged to disclose the actual debt status and the affected families to the city council. The motion also called for the discontinuation of IBI collection from tenant families in developments and the reimbursement of incorrectly charged amounts among other demands.
Another institutional agreement, based on a motion by Drago with an amendment from the local government, focused on the safeguarding and promotion of indigenous heritage. The agreement involved studying the project for the Interpretation Center of the Guanche necropolis of El Becerril to rectify operational deficiencies, promoting research with academic collaboration on potential plundered municipal Guanche heritage currently held by other institutions, and pursuing refunds where applicable.
