Güímar Increases Water Rates by 20% to Address Accumulated Contract Debt
The municipality of Güímar has implemented a 20% water rate increase to address accumulated debt and missed contractual price adjustments under its long-term agreement with Aqualia.
Water rates in Güímar have increased by 20%, a move that highlights the challenges of managing long-term public service contracts. The change was officially published on August 24, following a June 26 vote where the governing party approved the measure while the PSOE and CC groups abstained.
This price hike is part of a financial recovery plan for the town’s 25-year contract with the utility company Aqualia. Mayor Luisa Castro explained that the increase is necessary because previous annual price reviews were skipped. The contract originally included a schedule of smaller, gradual increases—8.5% in 2022, 3.5% in 2023, 2.5% in 2024, and 5.5% in 2025—that were never applied. By bundling these missed updates and the resulting interest into one single increase, the council aims to cover the accumulated debt.
Under the new system, residential customers will pay a fixed fee of 12 euros every two months for usage up to 10 cubic meters. For consumption beyond that, the rates are split into three tiers:
- 11 to 30 cubic meters: 1.29 euros per unit.
- 31 to 60 cubic meters: 1.86 euros per unit.
- Over 60 cubic meters: 2.83 euros per unit.
This new structure applies to both residential and industrial users, illustrating how imbalances in municipal contracts can directly impact the bills paid by citizens.