Gran Canaria has become the latest island in the Canary archipelago to implement water supply cuts due to the ongoing severe drought. The municipalities of Firgas and San Mateo have begun restricting water usage to ensure supply can be maintained throughout the summer months.
The summer drought continues to pose significant challenges across the Canary Islands. In Gran Canaria, areas above 300 metres in elevation are particularly vulnerable, as desalinated water does not reach these heights. With the population in these areas tripling during the summer, maintaining water supply has become increasingly difficult.
Water cuts
Firgas and San Mateo have already started implementing water cuts, but they are not the only municipalities facing critical water shortages. In Santa Brígida, water is being pumped from coastal areas, but it arrives with low pressure in neighbourhoods like La Atalaya. Similar issues are occurring in Teror, while in the southern regions of Mogán and San Bartolomé de Tirajana, water is being delivered by tanker trucks.
Rain deperately needed before November
In Valsequillo, the local government has urged residents to moderate their water consumption. The municipality is also dealing with a recent system breakdown, further complicating the situation. Other municipalities fear that if the island does not receive rainfall before November, more stringent water restrictions will need to be enforced.
Gran Canaria joins Vallehermoso in La Gomera and Arico in Tenerife, which have already been experiencing water supply interruptions for several days. The expanding impact of the drought across the Canary Islands underscores the pressing need for conservation measures and highlights the ongoing struggle to manage water resources in the face of climate challenges.