The aging water infrastructure in many municipalities leads to the daily loss of millions of liters, posing a significant challenge. This is compounded by the high costs local corporations must bear, not only due to the volume of wasted water but also the high production expenses, which include desalination and pumping, essential for supply in Gran Canaria.
For over five years, the Agüimes City Council has implemented a plan for infrastructure renewal and intelligent control systems in its water network. This initiative, with an investment exceeding 4.5 million euros, aims to minimize losses. Since the work began in 2020, networks have been renewed in areas such as northern Arinaga, Montaña de Los Vélez, Montaña San Francisco, Cruce de Arinaga, Vargas, and Agüimes town center.
Last year, interventions focused on the urban core of Playa de Arinaga, where work was carried out on 34 streets, replacing nearly 15 kilometers of potable water pipes and 1.78 kilometers of irrigation water conduits. This modernization has transformed service efficiency, combining civil works with remote management technology. Replacing old galvanized steel pipes with modern materials and designing the network in a mesh configuration allows the Council to precisely sectorize the supply.
The system is monitored in real-time via a Scada platform, which immediately detects anomalies. This precision has enabled the water team to locate leaks even inside private homes during the night. Monitoring not only prevents water waste but also provides greater flow and pressure to the population by eliminating structural losses.
In addition to network improvements, a new water reservoir is being built to meet the demand of businesses in the Arinaga industrial estate. This infrastructure, with an investment of over 3.7 million euros—of which 2.5 million are contributed by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and 1.2 million by the Agüimes City Council—will be located in Hoya Cabrera. It will have a storage capacity of approximately 20,000 cubic meters over an area of 3,362 square meters.
“"These are inconvenient works, especially those related to the replacement of the water supply network, because they also cause inconvenience to residents, but these actions are very necessary."
“"To demonstrate that public services can be efficient, and this will also allow us to allocate the resources we save to other needs, and not only that, but it is also acting responsibly and sustainably."
Hernández emphasized that renewing the water supply network infrastructure is a matter of responsibility and the result of governmental stability. He highlighted the importance of focusing on structural and fundamental aspects for the proper functioning of the municipality, rather than prioritizing specific issues that might be more visible or politically appealing.
