The Cabildo de Tenerife has put forward a proposal this Monday to extend the Water Emergency Declaration by an additional eight months, extending the situation until the end of October. This action has been reviewed by the drought panel, which convened to assess the condition of the island prior to the conclusion of the previous extension of the water emergency, due to end this Friday. A definitive decision will be made following the meeting of the General Assembly of the Insular Council of Waters of Tenerife, scheduled for Thursday.
Blanca Pérez, the insular councillor for the natural environment, sustainability, and emergency situations, has stated that technical reports indicate that the rainfall in recent months has been inadequate, resulting in a decrease in aquifer levels. The water emergency in Tenerife was initially declared on May 29, 2024, for a duration of six months and was subsequently extended for an additional three months, until February 28. This extension was dependent on the potential arrival of significant rainfall to facilitate the early termination of the emergency; however, such conditions have not materialised, as emphasised by the Cabildo de Tenerife.
Blanca Pérez noted that a significant portion of the 75 planned measures aimed at ensuring water supply and mitigating drought effects will yield approximately 50,000 cubic metres of water per day in the upcoming months, which is nearly three times the amount prior to the emergency.
Nevertheless, the councillor stressed, “the weather conditions remain suboptimal due to insufficient rainfall, additionally aggravated by increased water consumption, both for domestic and agricultural use, alongside the declining aquifer levels after prolonged periods of drought.”
The Insular Water Council of Tenerife is currently evaluating new strategies to tackle the drought situation “safely,” according to the councillor. Data from the Insular Corporation reveals that recent months have shown an increase from an influx of 15,827 cubic metres per day in November 2024 to a planned 50,000 cubic metres per day in the coming months. This increase is partially attributed to contributions from the Marine Water Desalination Station (EDAM) located in the Güímar Industrial Area (1,700 cubic metres) and the EDAM in Funche (2,000 cubic metres per day), along with the well in green (180 cubic metres per day).
The Metropolitan Edam, expected to provide 2,100 cubic metres per day, and the expansion of Buenos Aires are anticipated to be operational by April; whereas the Adeje-Arona EDAM expansion, which will facilitate an additional 5,000 cubic metres per day, is slated for May. Among the measures implemented by the Insular Council of Waters of Tenerife is the provision of subsidies amounting to 4,606,350 euros for the 12 municipalities with populations under 20,000, which manage their own water services, to address actions regarding the reduction of network losses.
Additionally, another line of subsidies totalling 5,847,700 euros has been established for the municipalities of La Laguna, Tegueste, Candelaria, Arafo, Güímar, San Miguel, Guía de Isora, and Puerto de la Cruz to enhance residential connections to the sewerage system.
Furthermore, the Insular Council has allocated funds for projects such as the installation of a portable EDAM at Mesa del Mar (Tacoronte) and an initiative for the San Miguel City Council to improve water supply to elevated areas, allowing drainage of water from higher regions of the municipality.
The drought committee consists of representatives from municipalities, consortiums, public enterprises, public service management, concession holders or operators, agricultural organisations, business and union entities, the Canary Islands government, and the Insular Cabildo of Tenerife.
Additionally, the committee includes a representative for farmers from each of the listed hydraulic regions: Las Cañadas del Teide, Northwest, La Orotava Valley, Northeast, Anaga, Metropolitan Area, Güímar Valley, Southeast, and Southwest; along with managers from the public company Balsas de Tenerife (Balten) and the Insular Water Council of Tenerife.
