Puerto de la Cruz is set to establish a desalination facility in the Punta Brava neighbourhood, an initiative outlined in the new administrative concession for the integral water cycle, the specifics of which were disclosed yesterday. The window for submitting bids will commence in May, and the successful bidder will be tasked with its construction. This plant is designed to operate using reverse osmosis and will have the capability to process 2,800 cubic metres of water daily.
“Its implementation will bring about an improvement in nitrate levels and simultaneously ensure a consistent and autonomous supply,” stated the Councillor for Concessions Administration, Pedro Antonio Campos, who elaborated on the aims of the new contract, flanked by the mayor, Leopoldo Afonso, and the head of services, Alonso Acevedo.
This treatment facility will necessitate a pumping mechanism to transport the water from the plant to the Vera tank, alongside plans for an overfield in the Esquilón II tank.
Another crucial aim is the construction of a new reservoir in the San Nicolás zone, as the current storage capacity in Puerto de la Cruz “falls short of the recommendations set by the hydrological plan.” Municipal land will be allocated for this development, “which will augment the system’s capacity by no less than 5,000 cubic metres, thereby enhancing the city’s water security,” he remarked.
The new integral water cycle concession addresses “the pressing need to tackle the crisis facing Playa Jardín,” Campos added. It encompasses drinking water, sewage, and stormwater services and has been granted for a duration of 30 years, though it was set to expire on September 6, 2021. Since then, the mayor has pointed out that “substantial investments have been made in sanitation and supply, the absence of which has resulted in the current predicament.”
The new concession aims to extend its duration to 40 years and to implement a supply and sanitation system that adheres strictly to current regulations.
The investment plan totals 28,434,558 euros, with future projects expected to have an estimated execution timeframe of 18 months. These works will also involve the legalisation and relocation of the pumping stations (EBAR) outside the maritime land domain and the refurbishment of the Punta Brava neighbourhood to enhance its sanitation system.
The mayor expressed confidence in the ability to reopen the beach at Playa Jardín this summer, stating, “We have undertaken numerous actions in recent months, particularly intensifying efforts over the last fortnight, covering maintenance, cleaning, and sanitation networks, as well as the replacement of collectors, which has already shown an improvement in water quality according to reports from the General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Islands.”
