Tenerife Moves to Reform Water Law Amid Infrastructure Investment Push
Tenerife officials are seeking to reform the 1990 Canary Islands Water Law to extend private operating permits and secure infrastructure investment amid concerns over long-term water supply stability.
Tenerife is currently embroiled in a heated debate over the future of its water supply, as officials and business leaders question a water management model that has been in place for over 30 years. According to the newspaper El Día, the Island Council (Cabildo), supported by business and agricultural groups, is moving to reform the 1990 Canary Islands Water Law. The goal is to extend the operating permits currently held by private water communities.
The controversy centers on a 2040 deadline. Under current laws, the ownership and management of the island’s galleries and wells—which provide 70% of Tenerife's water—are set to revert to the public sector by that year. However, the island government and business leaders argue that this transition is creating instability, leading to the premature abandonment of vital infrastructure. Water operators like Canaragua and Tagua warn that this legal uncertainty is discouraging the private investment needed to maintain the island's water supply.
Blanca Pérez, the Minister of Natural Environment, emphasized that the island cannot afford to lose its network of galleries and wells. The proposed legislative change aims to keep these private entities operating as part of a wider 500-million-euro investment plan. This strategy focuses on four main areas: expanding desalination powered by renewable energy, increasing water reuse, upgrading sanitation networks, and maintaining groundwater extraction.
Agricultural groups have also pushed back against the idea that water management is controlled by a small elite, noting that ownership is actually spread among thousands of farmers, ranchers, and local town councils. While the Cabildo aims to increase annual water production from 196 billion liters to 217 billion by 2033 to stay ahead of demand, industry experts insist that success will depend on faster administrative processes and strong public-private partnerships.
With water production from the island’s 589 galleries and 180 wells currently well below its 1965 peak, officials are under pressure to find a balance. The proposed legal reform is viewed as a strategic move to modernize infrastructure and ensure that Tenerife has a reliable water supply for the coming decades.