Reclaimed water for agriculture in Tenerife meets all the standards set by the Ministry of Health. This is confirmed by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Council of TenerifeJavier Parrilla, who indicates that three analyzes of reclaimed water samples taken at different points and carried out by an independent laboratory, reflect that the levels of mercury in the water are imperceptible and much lower than those indicated by the drinking water regulations for consumption .
“The reclaimed water that is distributed among farmers in Tenerife meets all the quality standards set by the Ministry of Health for drinking water, and this has been corroborated by the three analyzes requested by the company Balsas de Tenerife (Balten) to an independent laboratory, which is certified by Aenor’s quality standards”, underlines the counselor.
In this sense, it explains that “the samples taken at three different points of supply of Water northeast of the Island, specifically, in Tacoronte, La Laguna and Tegueste, determine that the levels of mercury present are less than 0.2 micrograms per liter”.
It is “a measure much lower than the maximum limit indicated in the regulations that regulate drinking water for consumption (RD140/2003), which sets a maximum limit of 1.0 micrograms per liter. Therefore, our quality requirements go beyond what is legally indicated in the system for the reuse of treated water”, he insists.
In this way, he continues, “the reclaimed water in Tenerife has levels of heavy metals so low that they are undetectable and well below the limit for drinking water.”
The island official regrets “that credibility is being given to claims not supported by any evidence and making unfounded claims against reclaimed water” when it “means the present and future of stability for the island’s agriculture.”
Parrilla is convinced that “the strategy of betting on reclaimed and/or desalinated water will lead the Island to develop with greater energy efficiency, will generate wealth and is a fundamental step towards the circular economy” and for this reason the Cabildo ensures that it complies with all the established sanitary requirements”, he concludes.
