Mesa del Mar Protests Desalination Plant Amid Permit, Environmental Concerns

More than 150 people gathered on Tuesday night in Mesa del Mar, a coastal town in Tacoronte, to protest against a planned desalination plant. Shouting 'we don't want it,' they rejected the project, which was proposed by the Tenerife Island Council (Cabildo de Tenerife) to address a water shortage and secure water supplies for agriculture.

The meeting, held at the Tamara building, was organized by the ruling coalition (PSOE-CC-PP) to provide information and clarify details about the facility. However, this goal was clearly not met.

The atmosphere was very tense as residents criticized political leaders and the company Teideagua. They accused them of a lack of transparency, clarity, and information about the project. Residents pointed out that the plant lacked the necessary permits and approvals, which had already caused work to stop. A biologist at the meeting also warned that the discharge of brine could have serious environmental impacts on marine life.

One of the most intense moments came when José Daniel Díaz, spokesperson for Nueva Canarias, used documents to show that some of the information provided was false. He challenged the claim that an environmental impact report wasn't needed because the project was part of a water emergency plan. He also disputed the concessionaire company's assertion that brine discharge would be less than 3,000 cubic meters. "The document shows it's 3,750 cubic meters per day, which is like an Olympic swimming pool," he argued, "meaning this report is absolutely necessary."

Díaz also pointed out that Teideagua submitted the project paperwork to the City Council on November 19, 2025, even though "works were already underway." He claimed this was done with the City Council's approval, similar to the exploratory drilling that took place in previous months.

Among the most serious issues Díaz highlighted was the City Council's authorization for a 30-ton truck to use the road above the Ficus building for the desalination plant's construction. He cited a document signed by Mayor Sandra Izquierdo on October 30. He also mentioned letters sent to the Councillor for Urban Planning, Tarsis Morales, on October 26 and 29, despite Morales claiming to know nothing about them.

This road is usually off-limits to trucks, and buses can only use it twice a day. This is because the building's roof supports the road, and the upper floors are sensitive to vibrations.

Furthermore, Díaz stated that there was no authorization from the Canary Islands Government's Ministry of Industry. He explained that the site is designated as rural land with coastal and landscape protection in the General Urban Plan, and a desalination plant is not allowed in such an area.

"The work has been rushed," the NC spokesperson stressed, to applause from the crowd. "El Sauzal rejected a similar project because they don't want it, and neither does Tacoronte."

By the end of the meeting, residents expressed their readiness to organize protests to halt the plant's construction. They told this newspaper that the mayor continues to defend a desalination plant that "no one supports."

The second deputy mayor, also a spokesperson for the city council, admitted that mistakes were made in informing the public, for various reasons.

"We were late, and we allowed certain opposition groups to stir up residents in Mesa del Mar and other areas," he said, directly blaming Nueva Canarias.

He promised that the City Council would demand an environmental impact report from the company to prove that brine discharge would not harm marine life in Mesa del Mar. He also stated that work would not be allowed to continue without all the necessary permits for the specific sector.

"The government is not taking a side for or against the desalination plant," he clarified. "However, we are concerned about Tacoronte's water supply – that one day people might turn on their taps and find no water. Our duty as public officials is to ensure water for everyone."