The decision has been made by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council to halt all water-related events and festivities in the area following the recent announcement of a water emergency on the island. This move aims to prioritise the responsible and sustainable usage of water during a critical period when water sources are close to depletion due to the lack of rainfall impacting the Canary Islands.
As a result, various municipal activities that involve water, including the summer events planned in the Salud-La Salle and Centro-Ifara districts such as the children’s event ‘Enchúmbate’, have been cancelled.
Since the declaration of a water emergency on the island, the City Council has initiated a series of measures to promote the responsible consumption of potable water. This includes the implementation of a protocol with three levels that will determine water usage restrictions based on the available storage capacity of the key reservoirs situated in the Southwest, Center-Ifara, and Anaga districts.
Under this protocol, actions will be taken according to three colour-coded levels, akin to a traffic light system. Green signifies no restrictions on water usage, while orange and red indicate various restrictions or bans, as applicable.
Currently, the status is at green, signifying no restrictions in place. Nonetheless, in light of the declared water emergency, the City Council has opted to suspend activities where water is the central element.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez emphasised the importance of responsibility and aligning council actions with the public’s duty towards water consumption: “The repercussions of climate change are directly and irreversibly affecting us. We must recognise and act responsibly in managing the depleting water resources, a vital element that is progressively becoming scarcer.”
Furthermore, Public Services Councillor Carlos Tarife highlighted that any changes in the traffic light system will be promptly communicated. “The current capacity stands at 55%, indicating the green level. These measures will be implemented with complete transparency,” he affirmed.
The City Council urges citizens, businesses, hotels, and restaurants to collaborate for the sustainable use of water and adhere to the directives from the relevant authorities on this issue.
