The Association of Consumers and Users of Lanzarote, Aculanza, has filed a complaint with the Environmental Prosecutor's Office, considering that a crime against the Environment and Public Health could have been committed, in relation to the water quality of Yaiza.
The complaint arrives after the General Directorate of Public Health has initiated "an administrative file for violation of regulations regarding Health" against Inalsa and the Yaiza City Council, as stated in a letter that this body has sent to Aculanza.
The consumer association filed a complaint on May 5 with the General Directorate of Health, requesting that a file be initiated "to proceed with the pertinent actions and correct the cause", as well as "estimate the compensations that all affected consumers should receive".
In the letter that Aculanza has received as a response, the general director of Public Health, Fernando Díaz-Flores, states that the adoption of "corrective measures" for the correction of alterations in water quality corresponds to Inalsa as "responsible manager", "with the City Council having to ensure compliance".
Restrictions on use
Likewise, he affirms that the sanitary surveillance of water for human consumption corresponds to Health, as well as the establishment of sanitary recommendations for the protection of the health of consumers and points out that, in this case, "the restriction of use of the supplied water was already established" as a protection measure.
These restrictions occurred in August 2009, when high levels of iron were detected in the water "above the authorized limits", so its use for drinking, cooking or preparing food was prohibited.
Regarding the compensation that those affected should receive, the general director of Public Health indicates that the estimation of compensation "exceeds" the powers and functions of this body.
