SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 7 Aug. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Island Council of Tenerife, through the Island Water Council, has finalized a deal with the state-owned company Aguas de las Cuencas de España (Acuaes), under the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, to boost investments in the island’s sanitation systems from 170 to 233.5 million Euros.
This announcement was made during a press conference by the Cabildo’s President, Rosa Dávila, who appeared on Wednesday alongside the Vice President and Minister of Tourism, Lope Afonso, to disclose the decisions taken by the Government Council.
Rosa Dávila highlighted that this “significant” increase in state investment is aimed at addressing the substantial expenses resulting from rising prices, expanding purification and sanitation systems at various locations on the island to prevent discharges into the sea, and ensuring compliance with European standards to avoid potential penalties.
Dávila elaborated that the primary goal of the investment is to establish a comprehensive sanitation and purification system in the territorial boundaries of Arona East – San Miguel, West, Acentejo, Granadilla de Abona, and Valle de La Orotava. This system will help resolve issues related to non-compliance with the European Water Protection Directive, as well as facilitate the regeneration of treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation purposes.
The island’s president shared that the construction of the new wastewater treatment plants in the West and Los Letrados has already been finished, awaiting approval from the Directorate General for Ecological Transition to begin operation between August and September. This advancement will eliminate sea discharges from Santiago del Teide to Playa San Juan and halt discharges in Montaña Pelada, El Médano, thereby preventing the beach from being closed again.
Updates on the systems in the West, particularly in Granadilla de Abona and the La Orotava Valley, indicate a progress level of around 90%. Meanwhile, work is ongoing in the Arona – San Miguel system to optimize the mechanical and electronic equipment for the new Montaña Reverón wastewater treatment plant. The regional system in Acentejo has been finalized with drainage wells, and tests are being conducted to confirm the chosen solution’s viability for this wastewater treatment plant.
