Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (EFE) It is moving towards a desertification scenario due to the climate crisis.
This is how the insular president expressed himself at a press conference to take stock of the water situation in Gran Canaria and the actions implemented, which he has valued at nearly 100 million euros without counting the Salto de Chira, to guarantee access to water mainly in midlands and peaks.
According to Morales, all the actions implemented to guarantee access to water resources on the island will be deployed and fully effective within a decade, when there will be a “real alternative” to the situation that will cause climate change.
CAPACITY FOR ONE YEAR
Regarding the remaining capacity for this 2023, Morales has pointed out that at least in the southwest zone one could speak of a capacity for one year.
«But if there were problems, there is a network to bring reclaimed water from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Fataga. This network has been prepared in case there is not enough rainfall”, the president of the Cabildo has deepened, who has pointed out the drought as the main factor of uncertainty in peaks and midlands, especially for the agricultural and livestock sector.
He also recalled that at the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024, Salto de Chira will begin to receive water from the Arguineguín desalination plant and, therefore, water will begin to enter these dams and the drought situation in the basin will end. from Tejeda-Artenara.
El Salto de Chira is a reversible pumping station that will use the existing dams of Soria (lower) and Chira (upper) to store in the form of dammed water the excess electricity generated by the wind and solar farms on the island when there is little demand , to later transform it back into electricity by letting it fall towards some turbines when necessary.
75% OF THE EXPECTED PRECIPITATION
Likewise, Morales has warned that in the last six years the registered rainfall does not reach 75% of what is expected and that, although this situation is best dealt with on the coast thanks to industrial water, it is in the middle and peak areas where They have more difficulties since they must supply themselves with water from their areas.
“Water security is essential. We must bet on this challenge”, said Morales, who added that he has insisted on the need to increase the production capacity of industrial, regenerated and desalinated water, as well as an integrated management of basins to which are added collaboration agreements and exchange with estates, communities and large users.
In this sense, Morales has opted to acquire and update hydraulic heritage and promote more agreements so that the water from the summit “stays at the summit and does not go to the coast.”
It has also announced that they are working on a water table that goes beyond the Gran Canaria Island Water Council (CIAGC), and “opens the spectrum” to other sectors that do not have a voice in the Council.
MORE FORMULAS
The person in charge of CIAGC planning, José Chirivella, also spoke at the press conference, expressing the need to look for formulas to increase the available resources.
“The problem is beginning to show itself in the coastal area, where there are not many requirements for industrial water to cover all the existing demand, while in the mountain area the sources have to be optimized,” he said.
Among some of the measures adopted, Chirivella has made reference to the expansion of production centers such as the Guía-Gáldar wastewater treatment plant (6.3 million euros) and the implementation of various natural purification systems, although more focused environmental objectives, “but that will generate greater production of resources.”
He has also underlined the importance of distribution networks, and has indicated that they are “careful” when implementing new facilities of this type.
EXPLOITING THE AQUIFER, SOMETHING FROM THE PAST
Regarding the “overexploitation” of the aquifer, Chirivella has pointed out that this is a matter “of the past” and that in recent years its measurement levels have stabilized “and it is not going down.”
“In order for the level to rise, there should be much higher rainfall than what we recorded. The next challenge could be artificial recharge actions to favor the increase in flows in the subsoil, but it is not easy with these precipitation rates. EFE