81% of the 1,063 kilometers of pipes inventoried for the distribution of water in Lanzarote are in poor condition, according to the latest Survey of Local Infrastructures and Equipment, collected by the Plan for the Activation of Sustainable Economic and Social Growth Stimulation of the Chamber of Commerce of Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
The water emergency is causing the Cabildo to mobilize investments of between 80 and 100 million euros, but the technicians consulted by the Chamber, place the global cost of renovation and improvement at around 800 million euros.
A comprehensive renovation of the water cycle in all its phases, does not only consist of replacing obsolete pipes, as stated in the Activation Plan, but also “incorporating early leak detection systems (pressure sensors, smart meters, and real-time monitoring platforms), as well as significant investments in new water infrastructures”.
Situation in each municipality. Arrecife, impossible to audit
The water problem is general on the island, but it takes on different intensity depending on the municipalities. Tinajo tops the ranking with 88% of its 97 kilometers of pipes "ready for immediate replacement".
Next, Tías, where 85% of a total of 242 kilometers must be renewed and Haría, where the percentage is the same, 85%, of a network of 138 kilometers.
Teguise, which has 323 kilometers of pipes, the largest network on the island, needs to renew 81% of it.
In Yaiza, 79% of its 192 kilometers of network "is deficient, despite recent expansions in Playa Blanca".In Arrecife, which accounts for 41% of the population, the Chamber highlights that its problems "could not be audited with precision," since many historical asbestos-cement collectors lack georeferencing, "but the daily blowouts indicate a situation, at the very least, comparable to the rest of the island".
Additional problems: waste, lack of agricultural network, tourist and population pressure
The Chamber highlights in its Activation plan that various agents interviewed point out, furthermore, that “the corrosion and poor condition of numerous sections of the network can introduce waste and copper into the water”, diminishing its quality and making its use difficult.
The problem is accentuated, according to the report, when considering that the agricultural sector, which represents 6.1% of total drinking water consumption, lacks a complete independent distribution network and must resort to the same infrastructure, already saturated and with high leakage rates.
“There have been no substantial improvements in the distribution network despite the growing pressure derived from the increase in the resident population and the continuous tourist expansion,” highlights the report.
Thus, in 2023 there were approximately losses of 54.8% of water: production was 29,487,726 cubic meters of drinking water and only 13,319,4324 reached end users. In 2024 this figure increased to 56.2%
Solutions in production, storage, distribution, consumption, sanitation, treatment, and irrigation
The Activation Plan for the Stimulus of Sustainable Economic and Social Growth of the Chamber of Commerce of Lanzarote and La Graciosa proposes seven main lines of work to improve the network and that Ekonomus will be analyzing in upcoming editions
First of all, it underlines the need to “improve the efficiency and robustness of the water production system, modernizing the osmosis modules and diversifying the location of the plants”.
They also point out that "water storage infrastructure must be promoted, to provide the islands with storage capacity that cushions breakdowns and seasonal peaks".Likewise, it advocates for the renovation of the **distribution** network and the improvement of its efficiency and control through “**digitization** systems, –the most critical challenge– involves cutting leaks, stabilizing pressures, and providing reliability to the entire system”.
Measures are also proposed to “reduce the consumption of residential and non-residential water, by improving the efficiency of the final consumer (through tools, better systems, and raising awareness in a culture of saving)”, among others.
They also consider it more than necessary to reinforce the sanitation network with full coverage for all of society, to "banish the use of other instruments, such as septic tanks, which are not sustainable and damage the environment".
Likewise, they point out that the tertiary water treatment system needs to be improved and updated, thus allowing water to be "treated" so that it reaches nature without contaminating it; and in turn, to take advantage of it for potential uses, such as, mainly, irrigation
Finally, they ask for measures to develop an efficient “irrigation network”, which efficiently and effectively carries regenerated water to the primary sector, gardens, and fields”.
