Yesterday, the agricultural sector in Tenerife expressed its “outrage” through a statement at the “alarming water losses in public supply pipelines”. The professional agricultural organizations (OPAS), consisting of Asaga Canarias, COAG Canarias, UPA and Palca, are calling on the relevant authorities (Island Council, Insular Water Council, and municipal councils) to increase inspections and improve the maintenance of the networks, given the pronounced deterioration of the Island’s hydraulic facilities. They insist that “with a water emergency declaration – officially in place since May 29 – it is intolerable to cut off water supply to agriculture while this resource is being wasted”. The Council, on the other hand, announces that it will “increase agricultural water supply by 10% and maintain the price of water for the agricultural sector”. It also argues that “the water emergency declaration will allow the production of over 27,000 cubic meters of water per day in Tenerife”.
They criticize “the pronounced deterioration of hydraulic facilities”, along with “the repeated failures of Balten (Reservoirs of Tenerife) in irrigation water deliveries, whose quality has significantly deteriorated in the past year due to the high salt concentrations”. This “makes the supply practically unusable for agricultural purposes in certain areas”.
Producers also criticize that “the emergency plan includes, among its measures, an increase in Balten’s tariffs justified by the need to update their costs”. If this increase is implemented, they warn, it would be a death blow for agriculture and livestock farming».
The agricultural sector “laments” being accused of “wasting water” and “blaming crops like bananas or avocados for excessive consumption, when historically, at the farmers’ initiative, tunnels were built that currently provide 75% of the water supply to the Island”. In fact, they point out, the text of the Tenerife Hydraulic Plan recognizes “the sobriety, austerity, and efficiency in private water management through communities”, demonstrating “the willingness not to waste a single drop”.
While agricultural farms are closing due to insufficient water supply in quantity and quality, “other economic sectors remain oblivious to this situation”, which is why professional agricultural organizations “also demand strict compliance with the Canarian Water Act”. Its article 36 “establishes a priority in resource use, obliging first to supply the population, secondly agriculture while tourism, industry, and leisure come in third and fourth places”.
Maintaining the Price
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Yesterday, the Council announced that it will maintain the price of water for the agricultural sector and increase the flow by 10% through the water emergency declaration, as it will facilitate the essential works for its supply, such as desalination plants. Over 27,000 cubic meters of water per day will be produced, resulting in a 10% increase in agricultural water demand and a 5% overall increase for the island.
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The water emergency declaration serves as the core for implementing and developing 75 measures aimed at ensuring supply to the agricultural sector. The Insular Corporation has planned actions with municipal councils, including improving municipal supply networks to reduce losses. Additionally, the Council “will continue subsidizing the water supplied by the public company Balten, ensuring the continuity of the Island’s agricultural sector”.
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