Tenerife Allocates €1.8 Million to Repair Aging Water Infrastructure

Tenerife is moving toward more localized water management after the Island Council approved a €1.8 million budget to fix aging drinking water networks. This funding aims to stop leaks and repair deteriorating infrastructure in nine municipalities, addressing a long-standing issue that has hindered the island's water efficiency.

The program is designed to be flexible and fast-acting. Municipalities with populations between 20,000 and 50,000 can apply for up to €200,000 each. This money can be used for repairs, expansion, maintenance, or the costs of planning and supervising the work. If a project costs more than the grant provided, local councils are permitted to add their own funds or, if justified, redirect resources to other essential public services.

This initiative is part of the Island Council’s broader effort to modernize infrastructure. Vice President Lope Afonso and Councilor Sonia Hernández emphasized that these repairs are urgent and that the new process is designed to bypass typical bureaucratic delays, ensuring a more reliable water supply. Municipalities have 20 business days to submit their proposals, and all work must be completed by June 30, 2028.

This move addresses the ongoing challenge of balancing Tenerife’s population growth with outdated water networks that suffer from significant leaks. By giving local councils the power to manage these projects directly, the Island Council hopes to provide a more effective, localized solution to a problem that has been a major point of political debate for years.