Southeast Mancomunidad and Water Council strengthen regenerated water use
The agreement is renewed to incorporate up to 1.6 million cubic meters of treated water annually for the region's agriculture for four years.
By Jonay Mesa Rodríguez
••3 min read
AI
Close-up of a regenerated water pipe flowing towards agricultural fields in the Canary Islands.
The Mancomunidad del Sureste and the Insular Water Council of Gran Canaria (CIAGC) have renewed their agreement for the use of regenerated water, securing up to 1.6 million cubic meters annually for agriculture.
The Mancomunidad del Sureste of Gran Canaria and the Insular Water Council of Gran Canaria (CIAGC) have strengthened their collaboration through an agreement that will advance the production, use, and distribution of regenerated water in the region. This partnership continues the cooperation initiated in 2002, optimizing the facilities of both entities and ensuring water supply for the agricultural sector.
The agreement, signed at the CIAGC headquarters, includes the supply of up to 1.6 million cubic meters of regenerated water from the Wastewater Treatment Plant (EDAR) located in Arinaga, over the next four years. The aim is to incorporate approximately 6.4 million cubic meters of this essential resource for Gran Canaria into the CIAGC system, making it available for agriculture.
The 1.6 million cubic meters annually contributed by the Mancomunidad del Sureste represent about 23% of the total volume of regenerated water distributed by the CIAGC, highlighting the significance of this region's production within the island's system.
“
"This agreement signed between the Mancomunidad del Sureste and the Insular Water Council, which has a regenerated water distribution network, not only guarantees the quality of this resource but also provides a solution for the regenerated water from our region. Signatures like the one made today demonstrate that when specific policies are designed with the general interest in mind, Public Administrations function with total coherence and always seeking benefits for society."
“
"The contribution of 1.6 million cubic meters annually is a fundamental and very important contribution for the southeastern region and for Gran Canaria in general. A volume of water that is a blessing, as we do not have reservoirs that hold such capacity, and it will help farmers work the land with total guarantees of safety and healthiness."
The agreement consolidates, with a possible extension for another four years, the capabilities of both entities, considering the high quality of regenerated water produced through tertiary treatment at the Southeast EDAR and the storage, transport, and distribution infrastructure network of the Insular Water Council. The water will be incorporated into the Las Palmas-Sur reuse system, integrating with that from Barranco Seco, to meet the agricultural demand of the Southeast region. Furthermore, if circumstances require, water may be supplied to rural areas of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
This collaboration exemplifies the circular economy applied to efficient water management, a cornerstone of the Mancomunidad del Sureste's sustainable development strategy. It involves reusing an already utilized and purified resource, reincorporating it into the cycle as treated water for agriculture. This commitment to responsible use leverages existing infrastructure, increases water availability for irrigation, enhances sector resilience against drought periods and meteorological changes, and reduces pressure on Gran Canaria's aquifers.
For the Insular Water Council, reuse is also a strategic line of island planning, emphasizing the use of regenerated water for agricultural purposes within the third cycle's Hydrological Plan and the organism's role in its management.
