The Cabildo of Lanzarote has issued a favorable report conditioned for the execution of the project of replacement of the maritime section of the drinking water supply network that connects Lanzarote with La Graciosa. This action, promoted by the General Directorate of Water of the Government of the Canary Islands, represents a strategic advance in the modernization of the hydraulic infrastructures of the Chinijo Archipelago and a guarantee of water security for the residents of the eighth island.
The current water transport system, installed in 1997, has reached the end of its useful life. It presents structural deficiencies that compromise the reliability of the service, so its replacement is considered a priority and urgent action. The project contemplates the installation of a new pipeline parallel to the current one, in order to minimize earth movement and environmental impact, also ensuring the continuity of supply during the execution of the works.
The president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, insisted on the importance of guaranteeing a basic infrastructure such as the supply of drinking water for the residents of La Graciosa and valued the technical work carried out to make this action compatible with the preservation of natural spaces. “We have acted with responsibility and rigor to defend the general interest without compromising the protection of our natural heritage, complying with all legal and environmental requirements,” he said.
For his part, the Minister of the Environment, Samuel Martín, celebrated the progress "as a firm step towards territorial equity, which places the residents of La Graciosa at the center, who deserve the same living conditions and services as the rest of the archipelago." In addition, he stressed that “this type of work demonstrates that public investment can and should be compatible with the protection of biodiversity, as required by the sustainable development model that we defend from the Cabildo.”
The Minister of Water, Domingo Cejas, stressed that “the replacement of the underwater section is a priority action to guarantee the water security of La Graciosa. We are talking about an infrastructure that connects two islands, submerged under the El Río channel, and that has been key for decades. Renewing it with current standards is an obligation.” Cejas also insisted that this action "is part of the Cabildo's commitment to continue investing in more efficient and safe supply networks."
An intervention "respectful" with the natural environment
The project has an estimated execution period of one year. Due to the difficulty of road access on the coast of Risco de Famara, a temporary construction camp will be installed in that area and maritime transport will be used from the ports of Órzola and Caleta de Sebo using specialized vessels. The scope of action is limited exclusively to the underwater section of the pipeline and the land sections located in the public maritime-terrestrial domain.
The technical report of the Environment Service of the Cabildo concludes that "the project is compatible with the values of the Natural Park of the Chinijo Archipelago and the Natura 2000 Network, provided that the established conditions are met."
The action is also compatible with the regulations of the Island Planning Plan, as it is a hydraulic infrastructure belonging to the Insular General System, which legitimizes its layout through protected rural land provided that the established conditions are respected.