An ambitious project to digitalize the entire water cycle in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, responding to the Island’s water crisis, will see the installation of 62,000 smart meters in homes and businesses in the municipality. This intelligent approach will enable data cross-referencing, providing insights into water consumption and flow issues, facilitating the rapid detection and resolution of breakdowns, as outlined by the local government officials.
José Manuel Bermúdez, the mayor, alongside Carlos Tarife, the Councilor for Public Services, and Ignacio Muñiz, the manager of the municipality’s Mixed Water Company (Emmasa), unveiled the Strategic Program for the Recovery and Economic Transformation (Perte) of water in the municipality. This initiative is slated for gradual implementation in the city until June 2026, aiming to enhance efficiencies and reduce billed liquid consumption by 127,000 cubic meters.
Bermúdez emphasized that the launch of the digitalization program for the comprehensive water cycle aligns with the water emergency recently declared by the Tenerife Cabildo. “From Santa Cruz, we will contribute to water management efficiency, sustainability, and effectiveness through technology, data analysis, and the dedicated efforts of the Emmasa team, whom I appreciate for their commitment,” he explained.
Carlos Tarife, the Councilor for Public Services, noted, “This significant stride in Santa Cruz’s integrated water cycle management ensures the optimization of every drop in the municipality, generating 172 jobs in the process.”
The mayor highlighted that “upgrading meters in the city will decrease water leaks, cut energy consumption in production and distribution by 10.7% annually, and reduce CO2 emissions by 2,867 tons. Additionally, it will enhance network performance, monitor discharges, and foster transparency by providing accurate consumption data for each household.”
The Strategic Recovery and Economic Transformation Program (Perte) for the digitalization of the comprehensive water cycle boasts a budget of 8.3 million euros, funded by European Next Generation recovery funds of 5,555 million euros, representing a 67% subsidy of the total.
Initiatives
The program encompasses 22 initiatives across the municipality’s rural and urban areas, projected to curtail water consumption, predict and prevent breakdowns to minimize water wastage, and boost network efficiency, reducing current losses at 8.9%.
In 2023, Santa Cruz reported a mere 8.93% average loss in its supply network, significantly lower than the national average (25%) and below the Community’s municipal average of 24%. The mayor underscored ongoing efforts to enhance water management by rigorously monitoring network leaks. “Addressing the water emergency entails not only finding production solutions but also optimizing existing resources and maintaining our network.”
The councilor stressed that Santa Cruz’s minimal losses position it ahead in water resource management. “Emmasa conducts regular maintenance on over 1,000 kilometers of pipes and infrastructure in the municipality using cutting-edge systems like remote monitoring, ensuring continuous oversight of vital water supply points in Santa Cruz,” he stated.
Furthermore, Emmasa will launch an awareness campaign through social media in the coming weeks, coinciding with World Water Day, to educate Santa Cruz residents on responsible and sustainable water usage.
