Oswaldo Betancort, the president of the Lanzarote Cabildo and the Water Consortium, visited Yaiza on Thursday to inspect ongoing projects aimed at improving water supply, sanitation, and treatment facilities in the area. Accompanied by Water Councillor Domingo Cejas, Betancort focused on vital works in El Golfo, the pumping station in Las Breñas, and the Playa Blanca wastewater treatment plant.
The Cabildo and the Water Consortium prioritise Yaiza for improvements to the water cycle, with over €15 million committed to various initiatives. “We are overseeing enhancements to sanitation and supply systems, allowing us to boost essential infrastructure,” Betancort stated.
In El Golfo, the Water Consortium addresses a long-standing issue by implementing a sewage network and a new treatment facility, with an investment exceeding €1.5 million. This work follows the revival of a 2017 agreement with the former Ministry of the Environment, which has been extended to December 2027 to secure a million euros in state funding.
Additionally, the Consortium is renewing the water supply network and upgrading sanitation in El Golfo, contributing an extra €499,485 for connections to local homes. Betancort explained the project’s scope, stating, “We expanded from just sanitation to include the regular water supply network for residents. We will connect all houses and improve water supply.” Plans for a second phase along El Golfo’s main road are also underway.
During their visit, Betancort and Cejas assessed enhancements at the Las Breñas pumping station, which now optimises output from the Janubio desalination plant, strengthening supply to the area. “We’ve installed a new pump to increase capacity for Las Breñas and Uga,” Betancort noted.
They also reviewed the Playa Blanca wastewater treatment plant, where an expansion project valued at over €9.3 million is in the final approval stages. Betancort confirmed, “The environmental report is completed, and we’re set to proceed with bidding funded by the Canary Islands Government.”
This expansion builds on previous comprehensive renovations at Playa Blanca’s intermediate pumping station, which included modernising the facility to withstand corrosive conditions and enhancing operational efficiency.
The sanitation plan also includes the connection of Puerto Calero to the Tías wastewater treatment plant, a long-standing request from local residents. Cejas announced that work has begun on the collector line from Tías to Puerto Calero and confirmed financing agreements to connect Uga and Yaiza.
In Puerto Calero, a pumping station will meet this demand, with plans to extend the new collector to benefit communities in Yaiza, Uga, and beyond.
