The month of March is dedicated to water and this year the UN established as a motto to commemorate World Water Day, which is celebrated every March 22, 'The Value of Water', a call to attention to citizens in general to reflect on the importance we give to this basic good. In accordance with the official program, Canal Gestión Lanzarote has taken advantage of this week to defend the quality of the water it currently produces and distributes in Lanzarote and La Graciosa, emphasizing the "strict" surveillance control implemented in the company to ensure at all times its good condition. The blog article dedicated to World Water Day and the document 'The value of each drop' reflect this.
The qualification of water as suitable for human consumption is given as a result of the company's compliance with the Sanitary Surveillance Program of the Government of the Canary Islands, the European Directive 98/83/CE and the Royal Decrees 140/2003, 314/2016 and 902/2018.
The sanitary criteria established to consume this good are also included in its own Self-control Protocol, prepared by the company, which goes "somewhat beyond what the regulations include, and which guarantees that the supply in Lanzarote is carried out in optimal conditions and with all sanitary guarantees."
Water quality, in data
Canal Gestión Lanzarote states that it takes more than 10,000 drinking water samples per year. Of these, about 1,000 are taken at the exit points of the two production plants, Central Díaz Rijo and Janubio; and more than 9,000 are collected at different sampling points established along the existing distribution network, the regulation tanks and large pipelines. The locations of these control points are representative of each supply network and are supervised by the Public Health Area of the Government of the Canary Islands.
According to the criteria established in advance by the health authority, these samples are subjected to organoleptic studies (taste, color, turbidity, among others), control analysis and complete analysis.
In short, the total number of analyzes carried out by the Quality Department through the Potable Laboratory, of all these samples, measuring different parameters of value, sometimes together and sometimes independently, amounts to more than 55,300 parameters analyzed, of which more than 8,000 correspond to the product water after being treated and before being distributed, and almost 42,300 to the water once it runs through the distribution network and the tanks. In summary, this company performs an average of 46 daily analyzes, an activity that "has no respite."
Regarding the temporality in which the analytical studies are carried out, it is highlighted that the water produced before it leaves the desalination plants is analyzed daily, in addition to a complete study every two months (minimum 8 complete per year), and more than one hundred of a control nature. However, it is highlighted that the Production department is also responsible for controlling the water that is in the treatment process approximately every two hours. Controls are also carried out daily on the water once it has been distributed.
The results obtained from the minimum samples that are required by the Sanitary Surveillance Program of the Canary Islands are sent to the National Drinking Water Information System, which also collects the characteristics of the supplies and the classification of water quality based on the results. The subscriber can know that qualification of the water supplied in their network through the SINAC access.
What is analyzed?
In compliance with the applicable regulations, the analyzes carried out in both distribution networks and tanks study indicator parameters such as turbidity, conductivity, residual free chlorine or pH; microbiological parameters such as Escherichia coli; chemical parameters such as iron, copper, mercury, aluminum, etc., pesticides and even hydrocarbons, among others.
In addition to the analytical and required controls framed in the production and distribution processes of drinking water, the company also carries out inspections in consumers' taps. During 2020, for example, a total of 224 analyzes of this type were carried out, since the water is analyzed both at the entrance of the house and inside it.
As a consequence of all these periodic controls, which are submitted to the approval and knowledge of the Water Consortium, Canal Gestión Lanzarote is in a position to guarantee the "good conditions" enjoyed by drinking water to be consumed directly, being totally suitable, as stated by the SINAC. Among other things, and in addition to the treatments to which it is subjected, the stability, cleanliness and quality of the water collected in depth on our coastline is highlighted.
In addition to these control mechanisms of the company, the Canary Islands Health Service of the Government of the Canary Islands also carries out inspections and analyzes throughout the year.
With all these controls, and the positive results of the analyzed samples the "good suitability" of the desalinated water to be consumed directly is ensured. And, without a doubt, "the good work of a team of more than 200 professionals who maintain a faithful commitment to the provision of this service, and without them it would be impossible for us to enjoy drinking water that is essential for the present and future of society."