It has been two years since the construction of the regional treatment plant of the Güímar Valley, and it is still non-operational due to the delay in the arrival of essential water supply from the sanitation networks of the three municipalities (Candelaria, Arafo, and Güímar). These municipalities are currently working on projects involving pipeline installation, sewage systems, and pumping stations necessary for the plant’s operation. The facility incurs an annual expense of half a million euros, despite not receiving any water. The water regeneration membranes remain inactive, incurring an additional cost of 600,000 euros every six months, as the Canary Islands Government continues to impose fines for illegal discharges into the European Union.
The Edaru (Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant) was designed in 2017 on the site of an abandoned treatment plant in Arafo from 1995. Its construction began two years later, and by January 2022, it was ready to commence operations after a period of testing. The initial estimated cost stood at almost 13 million euros, with its capacity expanded to accommodate two lines, each capable of processing 3,500 cubic liters per day. However, the plant requires at least 1,750 cubic meters of water per day to initiate operations, and currently, no water supply is available. It is anticipated that the water supply will be established throughout this year, starting from Güímar, the most advanced municipality with 70% of the sewer network operational.
The three municipalities will require a minimum of 50 million euros to complete the construction of their sanitation networks and transfer all the wastewater to the regional treatment plant. While Güímar has 70% sewerage coverage, Candelaria and Arafo lag behind, with coverage of less than 50% and 20% respectively, according to their mayors.
At the time, the Insular Water Council estimated that the pending investments required to finance sanitation and stormwater projects in Güímar amount to approximately 9,750,000 euros. This includes over four million euros allocated to the EBAR of Puertito and Los Llanos. However, in the latter, the majority of the infrastructure already exists, with only the electrical bulletin pending to enable water transfer to the treatment plant, as highlighted by Mayor Gustavo Pérez.
Mayor Gustavo Pérez further announced that the El Puertito pumping station project is expected to be finalized, with the agreement likely to be signed the following week with the Cabildo. The project has not been without controversy, as the City Council initially favored an independent treatment plant for the important population center. However, due to the Council’s refusal and subsequent loss of a subsidy nomination, the water from Los Tarajales was eventually agreed to be transported to Arafo, aligning with the position advocated by the former area councilor in the Cabildo, Javier Rodríguez Medina. The Los Tarajales pumping station, with its substantial flow of almost 600 cubic meters per day, is a crucial milestone for water supply to the regional treatment plant, emphasized by the need for other essential infrastructures such as the Punta Larga and San Blas collectors in Candelaria.
While Güímar is on track to supply water to the treatment plant this year, Arafo and Candelaria will face a longer wait for the water supply to be established.
Nonetheless, the Mayor of Arafo, Juan Ramón Martín, is optimistic about the progress in sanitation in his municipality. He is confident that “by the end of this term, Arafo will have achieved 100% sanitation coverage, a historic milestone for a municipality of our size.” Martín also indicated that sanitation coverage will soon increase from 17% to 67%, with ongoing works in Lima beach and the upper part of the El Carmen neighborhood, as well as planned projects in La Hidalga, El Carretón, the Los Lomos neighborhood, and the channeling from the City Hall to El Pino. There are three projects awaiting tender to complete the town, with an estimated total cost of around 11 million euros required to connect all waters to the regional treatment plant.
The Mayor of Villa Mariana, Mari Brito, estimates that the cost of the necessary connections from Candelaria to the regional treatment plant is around 20 million euros. She emphasized that this only incorporates the pumping stations on the coast, including Barranco Hondo, which will be linked to the Las Caletillas EBAR.
The outlined projects encompass the EBAR of San Blas and the Impulsión a la Edaru (Budget: 8,908,695.54), with an outstanding requirement for the expropriation of a house near the Basilica convent. These pipelines span three kilometers. Additional hydraulic infrastructures in the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias are included in the rehabilitation project of the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias (2,412,333.54 euros), which is currently pending bidding.
The extension of sanitation networks and coastal drives, with a total budget of 7,962,050.28 euros, will commence with the first phase involving the EBAR Punta Larga drive to Los Príncipes Street, a project that the City Council will put out to tender for 3,971,923.45 euros. The second phase will entail the EBAR Genaro Las Caletillas-EBAR Punta Larga, with a project cost of 3,990,126.83 euros. A signed agreement in December with the Insular Water Council entails a contribution of 1,900,321.72 euros. The coastal sanitation includes EBAR Calle La Galera-Comunidad Guaimara and collectors of Las Cale
