Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s Water Supply: A Comprehensive System
Santa Cruz de Tenerife has 38 storage tanks that can hold over 200,000 cubic metres of drinking water, allowing the city to maintain around five days of supply autonomy. This extensive system is supported by nearly 1,000 kilometres of pipes and a desalination plant that provides a significant portion of the municipality’s water.
The mixed water company, Emmasa, which is part of the Sacyr Group, manages the entire water cycle, including sourcing, desalination, distribution, and wastewater treatment.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez emphasised that this storage capacity helps to manage potential supply disruptions effectively, given the challenging topography of Santa Cruz, which requires tanks to be placed at varying elevations across the city.
Key Storage Facilities
According to Emmasa and the local council, the current network comprises 38 operational reservoirs with a total capacity of 204,000 cubic metres. Notable facilities include Los Campitos and Ofra, with Los Campitos being vital for supplying mid-level areas of the city. Recently, the council announced a €925,339 investment to upgrade infrastructure, enabling direct water supply from the desalination plant to the Los Campitos reservoir.
Further reservoirs are distributed throughout areas such as Fumero, Plaza de Toros, Cueva Roja, and Barranco Grande, with more modest installations in Anaga for harder-to-reach communities like San Andrés and Taganana.
Desalination as a Core Resource
The source of drinking water in Santa Cruz has evolved significantly over recent decades. The city once relied heavily on wells, but now sea water desalination plays a critical role in meeting demand. Sacyr reports that 62% of residential water comes from the desalination plant, which began operations in 2001 and recently expanded its daily output from 21,000 to 28,800 cubic metres.
The plant collects seawater via coastal wells before processing, with a designed capacity of 35,520 cubic metres per day. The remaining supply mainly comes from underground resources accessed through wells.
Extensive Distribution Network
Completing the water supply system is a nearly 1,000-kilometre network of pipes, which is regularly maintained and monitored. Public Services Councillor Carlos Tarife highlighted the continuous efforts to oversee the system’s pressure and detect leaks.
Stored water becomes crucial during large-scale emergencies, as it allows for ongoing supply while repairs are undertaken. The exact availability can vary depending on consumption and the specific area affected.
Wastewater Management
The water cycle continues beyond households and businesses, with a comprehensive sewage network directing wastewater to treatment facilities. Ongoing investments aim to improve this system, including the recent completion of a new wastewater pumping station, part of the Zero Discharge Plan.
Some of the treated water can be reused for non-potable applications, such as watering green spaces. This system ensures that a significant amount of the water used in Santa Cruz originates from the sea, is strategically stored, and is transported through a tailored network that accommodates the area’s varying altitudes.
