SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 4th June (EUROPA PRESS) –
ASAGA Canarias, COAG Canarias, UPA and PALCA, the Agricultural Professional Organizations, express their deep concern over the distressing water losses detected in Tenerife’s public supply pipes.
They are urging the competent authorities – Cabildo de Tenerife, Insular Water Council, and city councils – to promptly enhance inspections and upgrade the maintenance and conservation of the water supply network to prevent further harm to farmers.
The agricultural sector finds it unacceptable that, despite the Declaration of Water Emergency being in place since May 29, there are threats of cuts to agricultural supply while valuable water resources are wasted due to undetected obstructions or leaks in the distribution networks, caused by the significant deterioration of the island’s hydraulic infrastructure.
In addition to these shortcomings, they highlight in a statement the recurring failures of Balten (Balsas de Tenerife) in providing irrigation water of deteriorating quality over the past year, with high salt concentrations making the supply almost impractical for certain areas of the island.
The farmers are also critical of the fact that, amidst these challenges, the Declaration of Water Emergency includes a proposal to raise Balten rates, justifying it as a necessary cost adjustment.
“Implementing this rate increase would be devastating for agriculture and livestock,” warn the PAHO.
The agricultural sector laments being blamed for water wastage and faces accusations of excessive water use in crops like bananas or avocados, despite having historically constructed galleries that now provide 75% of the island’s water supply, an initiative led by the farmers themselves.
The Tenerife Hydrological Plan text acknowledges the “frugality, thriftiness, and efficiency in the private water management by water communities,” emphasizing the commitment to saving every drop in the controlled facilities.
While agricultural lands suffer from closures and poor management due to inadequate water supply in terms of quantity and quality, other economic sectors seem unaffected, prompting professional agricultural bodies to demand strict adherence to the Canary Islands Water Law.
Farmers highlight that Article 36 of this regulation prioritizes the use of water, requiring it to firstly serve the population, followed by agriculture, with tourism, industry, and leisure sectors coming afterward.
