The proposed diversion of regenerated water from the Punta Brava treatment plant in Puerto de la Cruz for agricultural use in the Valle de La Orotava through the La Cruz Santa reservoir (Los Realejos) does not have an easy path. At least, the government and opposition in the Cabildo of Tenerife radically disagree on whether there will be delays or not. While the Socialist Group takes it for granted that it is operational, one of the four planned works at the facility (the only one via emergency) will slow down “for quite some time” (without being able to specify) due to problems with the motors. The governing team (CC-PP) assures Canarias Ahora that the functioning of the tertiary system is “normal,” although it admits that it is in a “period of adjustments.”
This “period,” however, may be much longer than has been stated so far, according to PSOE councillor Javier Medina, who not only warns of problems with the motors but also about the state of the pipe connecting to the reservoir, which “has barely been used in the last ten years.” Beyond the pipe itself, parts such as the couplings and rubber fittings may show deterioration due to little use.
Medina raised this situation during the plenary commission on 24 July with the Councillor for Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez (CC), who merely pointed to the problems with the motors, but did not specify timelines for the arrival of regenerated agricultural water to the La Cruz Santa reservoir.
However, the department responsible for these emergency works is the Primary Sector, headed by Valentín González (PP), who insists that the tertiary system is operating “normally,” aside from these “adjustments,” according to what was communicated to this newspaper on Monday.
Conversely, the PSOE believes that the delay will last for a “long time” and emphasises that, in reality, “nothing has been done so far” at the treatment plant, as work has focused, through the company Aqualia, on reducing pollution from sewage discharges at Playa Jardín from the outfall. This has allowed for 16 analyses with parameters that recommend bathing, thus lifting the advisory against swimming in the main open-water leisure area of the Tourist City.
Therefore, according to Medina, these works for the regeneration of water and diversion towards La Cruz Santa have little to do with the state of the waters at Playa Jardín, where he does not think there will be problems in the future that would advise against swimming again for nearly a year. He does believe, however, that the announcements for the agricultural use of water from the treatment plant will indeed be unfulfilled, although he cannot specify dates at the moment.
