From late 2027, a new European directive will tighten obligations regarding urban wastewater treatment. In response, the Canary Islands Government is managing over 60 million euros in strategic projects to improve sanitation networks and water purification infrastructure.
The Minister of Territorial Policy, Territorial Cohesion, and Water, Manuel Miranda, announced the future creation of a technical support office for municipalities undertaking sanitation and purification projects. This initiative aims to foster compliance with increasingly stringent regulations, particularly for municipalities with fewer economic and human resources.
Miranda recalled that while responsibilities are largely municipal, the law stipulates that island councils assume these duties in towns with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants. He noted that European legislation has become progressively stricter, and the Canary Islands must adopt new mechanisms to meet environmental demands.
He specifically referred to the transposition of European Directive 2024/3019, which lowers population-based compliance thresholds across Europe without considering the archipelago's unequal conditions. He cited the existence of collector networks in midland areas, dispersed settlements, extensive piping, and impacts on ravines and protected areas.
The minister stated that the Canary Islands fully share the Directive's environmental objectives and do not seek general exceptions but a specific, justified, and verifiable application framework. Consequently, the Spanish Government has been informed of the Canary Islands' particular need for differentiated treatment and additional funding, referencing Article 349 of the Treaty on European Union.
The goal is to include an additional provision in the directive addressing the specificities of Outermost Regions (ORs), design a Canary Islands Adaptation Plan, analyze individual sanitation and purification systems as a solution for dispersion, and establish a realistic timeline with adequate financial backing.
In addition to meetings with the MITECO (Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge), Miranda announced upcoming meetings with island councils and the establishment of a technical support office for municipalities, especially smaller ones, similar to the successful urban planning support office.
The minister reminded that the regional government is managing approximately 70 million euros in strategic projects across all islands to enhance the sanitation and purification system. He provided examples such as the new system in La Graciosa, Playa Blanca (Lanzarote), Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura), San Blas (Tenerife), El Paso (La Palma), El Cotillo (Fuerteventura), and Valle Gran Rey (La Gomera).
