Santa Cruz de Tenerife 1 Apr. (Press Europa) –
The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, reaffirmed her “commitment” on Tuesday to resolve the issue of wastewater treatment in the Güímar Valley, where the corporation is investing over 40 million euros.
Dávila visited the urban wastewater treatment plant (EDARU) located in the Industrial Polygon of the Güímar Valley, accompanied by the Minister of Natural Environment, Sustainability and Safety and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, alongside the mayors of Güímar, Candelaria and Arafo, Gustavo Pérez, Mari Brito and Juan Ramón Martín, respectively.
Rosa Dávila noted that the funds are allocated for the treatment plant, desalination, water treatment, and the comprehensive sanitation, collectors, and promotion network, ensuring that nothing is discharged into the Güímar Valley.
“In the Tenerife town hall, we are fully dedicated to utilising every drop of water efficiently, directing it to where it is needed the most, which is in agriculture, while eliminating all types of discharge. Our objective is to achieve zero spillage in this area, addressing a historical issue that we are set to rectify,” she explained.
Blanca Pérez emphasised the contributions made by the Insular Water Council of Tenerife, which has facilitated various infrastructures, including the EDARU, capable of treating 7,500 cubic metres of water.
“We are discussing a series of initiatives within the region in which the municipalities also play a part and where we have the backing of the Canary Islands Government, responsible for executing the wastewater promotion works relating to San Blas,” she stated.
Mayor of Güímar, Gustavo Pérez, remarked that “today is significant” as the central area has ceased to discharge water into the sea and is now redirecting it to this facility. The next step is to develop the pumping station of Güímar Puertito, which will complete the necessary actions.
In tandem, Mayor of Candelaria, Mari Brito, elaborated that intensive efforts have been made to ensure that both infrastructures – the industrial and urban wastewater treatment plants – are operational. “Ten years ago, these facilities did not exist, and undoubtedly, this represents a significant advancement,” she added.
“In Candelaria, we are actively engaging in these collaborative projects, leveraging the administrative cooperation we have consistently advocated for, which is crucial, as we can see. Currently, we are aware that the project to link the new San Blas pumping station with this infrastructure is on track for approval by the Canary Islands government,” she noted, while also reminding that sanitation works are being carried out within the municipality, “which may cause some inconvenience,” but are essential for addressing these water treatment challenges.
Mayor of Arafo, Juan Ramón Martín, stated that “this is a key day as it marks the completion of one of the essential milestones necessary to address the sanitation and treatment problems in the Güímar Valley.”
In Arafo, he mentioned, “we have sanitation projects planned – some are currently being drafted – such as those for Lima Beach, the upper section of the El Carmen neighbourhood, the nobility, cart, and what we refer to as Casco 1, which crosses the backs, in addition to what is being drafted, which is Casco 2, extending from the square to El Pino.”
Thus, he underscored that these initiatives have been in development for years and will be undertaken to resolve the ongoing issues.
FINANCING
The Cabildo de Tenerife has committed 14.5 million euros to the WWTP in the Industrial Polygon of the Güímar Valley, 7.2 million euros at the Tarajales Pumping Station, and 2.4 million for the new seawater desalination facility.
Additionally, it has allocated 1.2 million euros to distribute amongst the three municipalities for sanitation networks and domestic connections, as well as a grant of 10 million euros for sanitation works in Arafo and Güímar.
Furthermore, the Canary Islands government will contribute approximately 8 million euros towards the wastewater promotion efforts stemming from San Blas (Candelaria).
The Cabildo de Tenerife, via the Insular Water Council of Tenerife, has commenced operations of the urban wastewater treatment plant (EDARU) in the Industrial Polygon of the Güímar Valley, which will allow for the processing of an estimated 1,000 m³ of wastewater daily.
This facility is designed to treat up to 7,500 cubic metres each day, enabling the management of all wastewater generated by the municipalities of Güímar, Candelaria, and Arafo, thereby necessitating the expansion of their tertiary sanitation networks and residential connections.
The EDARU of the Industrial Polygon of the Güímar Valley has begun operations with a flow of approximately 1,000 cubic metres of primary treatment waters, while awaiting the completion of the remaining collectors’ network that the municipalities will need to develop.
Once the plant reaches a capacity of 1,750 cubic metres per day, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment processes can be initiated.
