Yesterday, the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC) published the declaration made by the Tenerife Island Water Council (Ciatf), an autonomous body under the Cabildo. This declaration, along with a detailed technical report containing over 70 measures distributed across the Island to address various needs, is now open to public information.
With the publication of this declaration, a five-day public information period commences today to allow any individual or legal entity to raise objections. After this period, if no objections are received, the Council President will sign the decree for the declaration to come into effect. In case of objections, they will be reviewed and addressed before proceeding with the declaration, as per the Council’s explanation.
The publication in the BOC specifies that the Ciatf Management has proposed a six-month duration for this emergency declaration, which can be extended as per the law. This declaration “will imply the declaration of public utility or social interest and will involve the completion of the occupation procedure, if the expropriation of property or rights is deemed necessary for the implementation of the measures.”
The Ciatf has also outlined a technical document with over 70 measures, including 15 general measures for the Island and 60 segmented by hydrographic demarcations: Isla Baja, Ycoden, Valle de la Orotava, Acentejo, Northeast and Metropolitan Zone, Valle de Güímar, Abona, Vilaflor de Chasna, and Oeste.
Regarding general actions, all municipalities are mandated to “implement water demand management measures to align water consumption with availability, demonstrate lower percentages of unbilled water below 20%, or else adopt a program of measures.” Furthermore, the municipalities are directed to “increase the percentage of wastewater collection.”
Specific recommendations include the differentiation of tariffs for tourist network use by city councils, and direct management services are encouraged to implement strategies to reduce losses. Moreover, certain municipalities have been urged to review their water supply tax rates to align demand with water availability and promote responsible usage through incentives.
Among the measures proposed are expediting public interest-related processes for water collection and/or production files, and establishing a Water Emergency Monitoring Commission.
Additionally, the energy distribution management company in Tenerife is advised to prioritise and fast-track relevant procedures, while Balsas de Tenerife (Balten) is instructed to adopt demand management measures to match expected demand with water availability. Agricultural sector governing bodies are also urged to implement demand management plans.
Demarcations
Within demarcations, specific actions are outlined to enhance infrastructure in all areas, with a requirement for all municipal water services to utilise industrial water production where possible. It is proposed that conventional resources be substituted with available alternatives, managed by the Ciatf.
Municipalities such as Isla Baja, Icod, La Guancha, and San Juan de la Rambla are recommended to consolidate supply and sanitation services under a specialist company.
Furthermore, holders of authorisations for desalination plants in Buenavista Golf, La Monja, and Rural Teno are urged to make their idle capacity available for allocation by Ciatf for essential uses in Isla Baja and other regions across the Island.
Assessment will be conducted on the viability of setting up temporary desalination plants in Puerto de la Cruz and the Güímar Valley. Recommendations include exploring seawater desalination modules along the coasts of La Laguna or Tacoronte.
In the metropolitan area, the Santa Cruz City Council is prompted to expand desalination capacities and permit, exclusively for urban supply during the emergency declaration, justified increases in the exploited flow under concessional terms in El Cubo, Las Canteras, and Los Baldíos wells.
