Santa Cruz de Tenerife Approves 2.2% Water Bill Increase

Water bills in Santa Cruz de Tenerife are set to rise following final approval from the regional government. According to the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands, the new rates—which represent an average increase of 2.2%—are now officially in effect. This follows a lengthy administrative process that required the city to meet strict financial transparency standards.

The Vice-Ministry of Industry approved the change after a formal request from the City Council last June. The process faced delays over the summer when the Canary Islands Price Commission paused the application, requesting updated audits for Emmasa, the local water management company. The measure was finally unblocked on October 2, once the company’s financial statements were unanimously validated.

Under the new bimonthly billing system, both fixed meter charges and variable consumption rates have been adjusted. For a standard meter, bills will increase by 2.21%, with costs ranging from 18.40 to 39.83 euros, depending on usage. Larger meters will see proportional increases.

Despite the general price hike, the city is maintaining subsidies for large families to ensure the service remains affordable. These households will continue to pay a reduced rate of 1.64 euros per cubic meter for the first 50 cubic meters of water used. This adjustment comes as the region balances the need to maintain essential water infrastructure with the goal of keeping costs manageable for residents.