Arona is suffering from heat and water shortage: residents are protesting

Under the scorching sun, when the temperature soars above 35 degrees, neighbors joke: "The mobile app doesn't lie!" They gathered in the shade of a tree in Santa Isabel de Portugal Square. Residents of the El Fraile district have already learned to squeeze every drop of water from the tap.

For the past year and a half, this area of Arona has been experiencing constant water shortages. A thin trickle barely flows from the taps. And because of the heatwave, which the Canary Islands services are warning about, people are protesting again. "You see how it barely drips from the tap, and you worry... We even start applauding!", admits Vanessa Gutiérrez. She has already become an expert in improvised showers using a bucket and a "funnel from Shein," as she says.

Miguel Tacoronte, the head of the local association, talks about his invention: "We bought an electric pump (for 200 euros), and now at least a little water flows from the tap so we can wash." He explains that he did this because it is very hot now, and the Ministry of Health warns about the health risks.

But neither this pump nor the water tanker that is brought to the Villa Isabel football field every two days solves the problem. People need a stable water supply. "We use drinking water to wash. I even wash the dishes now like I used to, in a basin, and carry water to the swimming pool in the sports complex," says another resident.

For many families, the financial costs due to the weak water pressure are becoming unbearable. Vanessa, who lives on the second floor, spent 900 euros on a new washing machine and water heater. "Because the old ones broke down every month: the motor wouldn't start due to the weak pressure, and the boiler overheated."

The municipality of Arona is aware of the seriousness of the situation. At the last meeting on July 31, deputies considered two proposals. One from the PSOE – demanding that a tender be announced within 30 days for the second phase of pipe renewal (about 2,300 meters), that this project be included in the municipality's action plan, and that temporary water supply points be created for those who need them. The second proposal from Más por Arona – asking to declare a state of emergency with the water supply in El Fraile, to establish a water supply schedule, and to pay compensation to those who suffer from outages. Both proposals were rejected by the ruling party. Due to the absence of several deputies from the opposition, there were not enough votes to pass them. Residents and opposition parties are outraged. "It's incomprehensible," Tacoronte complained after the meeting. "We pay taxes, we wash with buckets, and we suffer without a washing machine."

The environmental councilor, Clari Pérez, said that she "understands the despair" of the people. She reminded that the first phase of the project has already started – 1,120 meters of new pipes are being installed. To date, 325 meters have been installed (about 30% of the planned amount). If everything goes according to plan, the work will be completed in mid-August.

The municipality of Arona announced that next Monday, the 11th, a meeting will be held in the community center of the district, where they will talk about the terms, the status of the work, and answer questions.

To make life easier for residents during the works, the municipality has installed three additional pumps to increase pressure and a leak monitoring system. But 2,300 meters of pipes still need to be replaced (this is the second and third phases of the project). At the meeting, it was explained that "the responsible technician is on vacation," which some consider a sign of slow administration. Meanwhile, the residents of El Fraile are learning to live with extreme heat and lack of water.

"This is not politics, but our common problem. Support us: spread the word or come to the protests," urges Gutiérrez. She reminds that today there will be a third protest organized by the local association. People demand effective and quick solutions from the municipality.