No water - it's time CAAF fired someone!

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

More than 13 million euros for irrigation modernization works in the south center of Fuerteventura.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), through the State Mercantile Society of Agricultural Infrastructures (SEIASA), has formalized today an agreement with the Water Supply Consortium of Fuerteventura (CAAF), to address irrigation modernization works in the central and southern area of the island worth 13,250,000 euros from the funds of the Recovery Plan, Transformation and Resilience of the Government of Spain.







The signing was attended by the president of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, Sergio Lloret; the president of SEIASA, Francisco Rodríguez Mulero; the vice-president of the Fuerteventura Water Supply Consortium, Juan Nicolás Cabrera; the General Director of Livestock of the Government of the Canary Islands, José Cabrera Noda; the Director General of Agriculture of the Government of the Canary Islands, Augusto Jesús Hernández; and Paloma Hernández, senator for Fuerteventura.

A project for the modernization of irrigation
The actions included in the 'Project for the modernization and improvement of irrigation in the south central area of Fuerteventura, TT.MM: Tuineje and Pájara', object of the agreement signed today, will benefit 289 irrigators and 152 hectares in the municipalities of Tuineje and Pájara.

The planned works consist of the execution of a new desalination module in the Gran Tarajal WWTP and a water tank attached to it.

In addition, through a pumping station, water will be driven to a tank in Mazacote, the first level of impulsion, already existing, and to the Tesejerague pond, also newly built in this action, to, from both infrastructures, supply the irrigable area through their respective irrigation networks.

Various improvements
Advancing in the digitalization of the sector, the irrigation networks will be equipped with a telemetry system in hydrants and remote control in ponds, tanks and pumping station.

Through this action, the use of unconventional water will be encouraged, thus avoiding the use of supply water for irrigation.

An energy improvement will also be achieved, thanks to the use of energy from renewable sources with the construction of a photovoltaic plant to feed the pumping of the seawater collection, the desalination module and the pumping of the tank to the pond.

The investment is part of the 'Plan to Improve the Efficiency and Sustainability of Irrigation' of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and will have Next Generation funds from the European Union up to 80 percent of the cost of eligible expenses, while the Water Consortium will contribute the rest. The works should be completed in 2026.

65.46 million euros in nine actions in the Canary Islands
In total, under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Government of Spain, the Canary Islands will receive 65.46 million euros (IGIC not included), for irrigation modernization actions distributed in two phases.

In Phase I, four actions will be executed, of which one is already underway on the island of La Palma, and a total of 16.15 million euros will be allocated. In Phase II, five projects worth 49.31 million euros will be undertaken. To these amounts must be added the percentages corresponding to the IGIC.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Noticias:

The Cabildo will inject an additional 700 cubic meters to the water network of the southern region through Aguas de Antigua.

This action is part of the water emergency works that are contemplated in the PICABAS to guarantee the supply in Fuerteventura.

The Cabildo made a visit, together with the authorities of the Island Councils and the Water Supply Consortium of Fuerteventura (CAAF), to the desalination plant of Aguas de Antigua to announce that the connection from that point to the general network of the CAAF, which extends from the deposits of La Herradura to the desalination plant of Gran Tarajal, has been completed. This first phase of connection will allow injecting an additional 700 cubic meters per day of drinking water to the southern region of the island.



With this impulsion also, which is part of the actions carried out due to the declaration of Water Emergency on the island, 500 cubic meters per day are being injected more, which were previously supplied to El Matorral, and, thus, the injection will increase to 1,200 cubic meters towards the southern region.



In this way, it will be possible to guarantee the supply of drinking water in that area of the island, where the population has faced a greater shortage in recent times. The cooperation between Aguas de Antigua and the City Council of that municipality has been fundamental to make this connection possible.



Starting tomorrow, disinfection tests will be carried out, and pumping tests will begin, if everything goes according to plan. In addition, it is expected that between tomorrow and Saturday they will begin to inject 700 cubic meters a day from the Aguas de Antigua plant to the southern region and thus guarantee the insular supply.



This action will help alleviate the difficult times of shortages experienced in recent weeks. It will also be transcendental to give greater autonomy to any breakdown that may occur in the drive of the Puerto del Rosario plant.



For its part, the new module of the Puerto del Rosario desalination plant, with a capacity of approximately 7,200 cubic meters, will enter into service in approximately 10 months, which will increase the water supply capacity in Fuerteventura. This expansion will also solve supply problems in the most remote areas, including some areas of Betancuria and the center of the island.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura has announced today, Friday, May 26, during the celebration of the Ordinary Plenary, that the Southern Region could receive 3,400 cubic meters of water per day within the following month due to the water emergency actions that are taking place on the island to alleviate the shortage.





With respect to the three projects of Insular Interest contemplated in the PICABAS, the Cabildo also announced that the specifications are ready to make the awards to the companies that will carry out the extensions of the Seawater Desalination Plants (EDAM) of Corralejo and Puerto del Rosario, as well as the construction of the new EDAM of Gran Tarajal.

In the desalination plant in the northern area, the remineralization of the water is being carried out, as well as the expansion and renovation of the transformation center. Likewise, an increase is also being made, to 3,000 cubic meters per day, of the impulsion capacity of the plant.

The new EDAM of Gran Tarajal
Another of the PICABAS projects is the construction of the new Gran Tarajal WWTP, which can supply the southern region of the island. Similarly, the civil works of the current plant are being renewed with the remineralization of water and the installation of new filters that improve injection.

As for the Oasis Wildlife reservoir, the resolution is being processed to increase the injection of this plant through a portable module, of 250 cubic meters of water per day, which supply La Lajita, to 1,000, to also supply the Valley of La Lajita and Tarajalejo. This drive could enter service in two weeks.

When this action is ready, 3,400 cubic meters per day can be used in the southern region of the island, so it will be above the deficit of water demand that currently has that area, which is 3,000 cubic meters per day.

Likewise, it is planned to inject 2,000 cubic meters of water to the south from the Aguas de Salinas plant, which has authorized 3,000 cubic meters per day and only uses 1,000 and currently pumps 500 to the south. However, a high-pressure group is needed to inject the rest of the water and be able to supply that remainder to the general network. This action would enter service in a month and a half, approximately. When this project is ready, it is expected to have a water cushion in case of any breakdown.

In addition, from the Barranco de Gran Tarajal plant, 1,200 cubic meters per day are being injected into that area.

For its part, yesterday the connection of the Aguas de Antigua desalination plant to the general network of the Consortium, which extends from the La Herradura deposits to the Gran Tarajal desalination plant, was completed. This first phase of connection will allow an additional 700 cubic meters per day of drinking water to be injected into the south of the island.

Disinfection and pumping tests begin
As of today, disinfection tests are being carried out, and pumping tests will begin if everything goes according to plan. It is expected that between today and tomorrow it will begin to inject an additional 700 cubic meters to the south and ensure an adequate supply for the population of the island.

Due to these water emergency actions, currently, 2,650 cubic meters per day are being supplied in total, of which 2,200 are for the south, where there is greater shortages, since it is located 70 kilometers from the EDAM of the island capital.

Pressure and tightness test at the Puerto del Rosario plant

A few days ago, the second pressure and tightness test of the new drive from the Puerto del Rosario tanks to the La Herradura desalination plant was carried out. The hydraulic work, framed within the PICABAS plan, has an approximate investment of almost five million euros.

It is a work of public interest to guarantee the supply of drinking water on the island of Fuerteventura, being an essential service that has suffered twelve breaks in the last two years, and five in the last five weeks.

The pressure and tightness test aims to introduce a fluid into the section of the sanitation network to verify the drop in water pressure in a certain time and verify that there are no leaks in the pipe. This test allows to evaluate the integrity of the network and guarantee its operation in the face of new failures.

In addition, the expansion of this desalination plant is in execution, as well as the new impulsion from this plant to the La Herradura deposits with the installation of a new module, with a capacity of approximately 7,200 cubic meters, which will enter into service in approximately 10 months. This action is essential to solve the problem of water supply on the island, especially in the central area.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

New filters are installed at the Gran Tarajal desalination plant.

The president of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, Sergio Lloret, and the vice president and councilor of Water, Juan Nicolás Cabrera, have made today, June 8, a visit to the desalination plant of Gran Tarajal, together with specialized technicians, to supervise the progress of the installation works of two new sand filters in the facilities.

This action is part of the commitment of the Water Supply Consortium of Fuerteventura (CAAF) and the Cabildo to guarantee the supply of drinking water on the island.

The insular institution is in the final stretch of this important project, framed within the PICABAS plan, which involves the assembly of two new sand filters at the Gran Tarajal desalination plant. These filters represent a significant improvement in the quality of the water entering the plant, as well as in its operational performance, allowing to reduce the number of maintenance stops.

According to what was transferred, the implementation of these filters is an achievement for the desalination plant, since it will improve the quality of the water supplied and allow the performance of the installation to be optimal.

President Sergio Lloret highlights the importance of this investment and points out that "with the installation of new sand filters we are strengthening production capacity and improving the quality of the water supplied to our citizens".

For his part, the Vice President and Minister of Water, Juan Nicolás Cabrera, points out that "this visit allows us to verify the significant progress that is being made in the Gran Tarajal desalination plant".

[Sir Real]

No water in Antigua today - not even a trickle from the taps. As other commentators have said, it's pretty 3rd World - how deep should I sink my borehole? Great that it's dropped on us on a sunday, when the shops with bottled water are all closed.

I don't accept that it's all about equipment failures and pipeline fractures. Well, maybe that's how it happens, but that's because there's inadequate capacity to overcome these seemingly inevitable problems. In short, the infrastructure is barely adequate at the best of times. When there's breakdowns etc, it cannot cope. How does CAAF not work-out that more capacity is needed?

Of course, capital projects cost Money, and that, no doubt, is the root cause.

[Johnrgby]

And yet they spend €7 million Euros on a oneway system in Caletabecause people are traveling to fast up and down the mountain??? when traffic calming bollards would have done the same job for a fraction of the price.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

And no water in Tindaya. For weeks now we are lucky to have water for an hour a day and quite a few days with none at all. Haven't had a trickle into our tank for nearly 3 days now. 😭

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

and still nothing in Tindaya

Radio Sintonia:

The water supply is restored after the breakdown this weekend in Fuerteventura.

The Cabildo de Fuerteventura has announced that the Water Supply Consortium (CAAF) has already restored the drinking water service and is working to achieve the total recovery of the supply on the island.



In that sense, between Tuesday and Wednesday the situation in the different affected areas will gradually recover, because at the moment "there is no significant breakdown in the supply", as assured by the president of the Cabildo, Sergio Lloret.

On Saturday afternoon there was a breakdown in the desalination plant of Puerto del Rosario, as a result of micro power cuts in the frequency inverters of the high pressure pumps, which presented failures and caused the paralysis of modules A and B.

This situation generated a drastic decrease in water production, going from a nominal production of approximately 27,000 cubic meters per day to 9,600, which has caused supply problems since Sunday, the 11th, in various sectors of the island, with the exception of Corralejo, Puerto del Rosario, Gran Tarajal and the area of the southern slope towards Pájara.

Given this incident, the emergency supply protocol in Fuerteventura was immediately activated, such as supply in vats. "Since Sunday morning, all efforts have been made to resolve this breakdown that has impacted the water supply," explained the Minister of Water, Juan Nicolás Cabrera.

"Fortunately, last night the problem was restored and solved, allowing the Puerto del Rosario plant to operate normally. However, a 60 percent decrease in deposit levels has been observed, affecting an important part of the island," said the president.

Therefore, it is transferred that the CAAF continues to work to achieve a prompt recovery in the water supply. As of today, Monday, the 12th, no significant breakdowns have been reported in the public supply network and the supply is completely restored.

The breakdown occurred in the frequency inverters of the high pressure pumps during the afternoon of Saturday, added to the lack of supply and the reduction experienced during yesterday, has generated effects on the levels of the deposits.

Faced with this situation, the Cabildo asks the population to make responsible use of water and appreciates the understanding and patience of all citizens while the supply service is completely restored.

[Grampiangranny]

Tamara, you poor soul. This whole thing is causing us to consider whether to sell up and move on. Going down to the sea to fill empty 8 litre water bottles for flushing the toilet is not our idea of paradise. 10 years ago we had sufficient water pressure for a water filtration system, not a chance now.

If everybody doubles up on their storage tanks a) we go back to square one with no-one better off and b) when the water runs out there is twice the capacity ( and time) to fill up again.

To add insult to injury, the myriad of motorhomes that have descended on El Cotillo, who pay no non-residents tax, no basura, and no CAAF water bills and who have been granted a free grey water disposal point and a free, fresh water supply in the village, still apparently prefer to use the malpas as their disposal point, both of grey water and worse. Some 'perform' right outside our windows.

We have similar problems in the Scottish Highlands.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

We've finally got mains water again! Fingers crossed that it stays on this time. I totally understand your reservations GG, it seems that CAAF have no redundancy built in to their processes!