The General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Islands advises limiting the consumption of tap water for drinking and cooking purposes among children under the age of eight in the areas of La Gallega, Llano del Moro, and El Sobradillo within the capital of Tenerife. This recommendation follows analyses conducted by the Mixed Water Company of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Emmasa), which revealed elevated levels of fluoride in the water sourced from the northern part of the island through the Los Dornajos-Baldíos Transfer Canal.
The fluoride concentration currently ranges between 1.7 and 2.1 milligrams per litre, surpassing the advised limit of 1.5 mg/l. Consequently, it is suggested to temporarily restrict the use of tap water for drinking and food preparation for children under eight, although there is no risk to the adult population.
The protocol established by Emmasa, in collaboration with the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, enforces this temporary restriction, which will remain in place until thorough analyses of the water supply for these neighbourhoods confirm it is safe for consumption by children under eight years old.
In the interim, to address the needs of the affected communities, two drinking water distribution points will be set up, allowing residents access to water without restrictions.
The locations for these distribution points will be situated outside the La Jurada (C/ El Bicácaro) and El Sobradillo (C/ Baile del Vivo) water tanks.
Emmasa has indicated that the high fluoride levels are directly linked to the drought conditions experienced by the island. The reduced water supply flow through the Araya and Rio Portezuelo canals, coupled with the deterioration in the quality of water provided by the Los Dornajos-Baldíos Transfer Canal from the Vergara Gallery (noted for high fluorine levels), has contributed to this issue.
Resolution of this problem is anticipated with the completion of the “Ofra-El Chorrillo supply channeling” project, which aims to enable the transport of desalinated water from the central area to the southwest of the city, thus mitigating reliance on external water sources.
Residents affected by this situation can report any issues to Emmasa’s customer service by calling 900 84 84 83 or 922 23 01 24.
