This document, which identifies the main water problems and needs of the island, was approved by the General Board of the Insular Water Council on July 31 and published on August 28 in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands, after analyzing public contributions.
The president of the Cabildo and the Council, Oswaldo Betancort, emphasized the importance of starting this planning in advance. "We are designing today the infrastructures and investments that Lanzarote will require to ensure future water supply. We have learned that in hydraulic matters, it is crucial to anticipate problems and not just react when they arise, especially on an island that depends almost entirely on desalination," he stated.
Betancort recalled recent water emergencies and extraordinary investments made to increase production and minimize network losses. The current objective is for future planning to prevent a shortage of obsolete or insufficient infrastructure.
The Scheme of Important Issues (ETI) is fundamental for the development of the future Hydrological Plan 2027-2033, defining key challenges and possible solutions. Subsequently, the Hydrological Plan will establish objectives, measures, infrastructures, and the investment schedule.
Given the scarcity of natural resources and dependence on desalination, this planning is vital for Lanzarote. It aims to anticipate future production and storage needs, improve distribution networks, enhance sanitation, purification, and the reuse of regenerated water, as well as address risks from floods and climate change.
The Insular Water Councilor, Domingo Cejas, highlighted that the ETI allows for prioritizing necessary actions and seeking relevant funding. "A desalination plant, a reservoir, or a pipeline are not built overnight. They require planning, projects, and years of processing," he noted, emphasizing the importance of starting now with the 2027-2033 Hydrological Plan.
Lanzarote currently has the Insular Hydrological Plan 2021-2027, definitively approved in July 2024. The Insular Water Council aims to prevent future delays, ensuring that planning is ready on time for subsequent cycles.
"We want Lanzarote to have its planning instruments in a timely manner," stated Domingo Cejas. "While we execute current actions, we must also think about the island's future and plan the water infrastructures we will need tomorrow."
The consolidation of the ETI is a crucial step for the development of the 2027-2033 Hydrological Plan, which will guide priorities, investments, and the construction of a safer and more sustainable water system for Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
