One in five cisterns, wells, and galleries in Lanzarote present a high risk to the population

One out of every five cisterns, wells or galleries in Lanzarote presents a high risk to the population. This is according to the updated census of hydraulic installations of the Hydrographic Demarcation of Lanzarote, published at the beginning of May in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands.

In the archipelago, millions of meters have been excavated to extract or store water. The isolation and care work carried out for years around these facilities has been abandoned, which has increased the risk to the population. Since 2008, a decree-law from the Canary Islands Government regulates the state of these spaces to prevent accidents among hikers.

This latest census, approved by the Island Water Council of Lanzarote, includes all the hydraulic installations on the island, their condition, and whether they pose any danger to the population. 

With the data from 2025, there is a total of 117 registered facilities, of which 24 present a high danger. Among the most dangerous are nine wells located between Puerto Naos and the Muelle de Los Mármoles, in Arrecife, all inactive. In addition to the Mala dam, also inactive, three cisterns in Mala; a disused well in Máguez; another inactive well in Arrieta; a disused cistern in Tahíche, near the Cabildo farm; as well as several cisterns in Argana Baja, Tinajo and Yaiza.

Meanwhile, another 21 pose a "medium" danger. Among them are part of the cisterns and galleries of Famara. Last summer, a group of young people shared online the step-by-step to access a water gallery in this area. Thus, the Cabildo recalled that this space is closed for "public safety reasons". 

To this reality is added that, despite the water crisis in Lanzarote, the vast majority of cisterns, wells, and galleries registered on the island are inactive (85.5%).