The Lanzarote Cabildo and the Water Consortium have tendered the works for a new underwater pipeline that will guarantee the supply of drinking water to La Graciosa, putting an end to the historic cuts suffered by residents in 2022 and 2023.
The president of the Lanzarote Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, has described the tendering of the new pipeline connecting Lanzarote with La Graciosa as a "historic event". The investment amounts to nearly €3.9 million and the works will last twelve months.
A Key Infrastructure for Supply
The new pipeline will replace the one installed between 1996 and 1997, which has suffered severe deterioration. The project includes 1,220 meters of underwater pipeline and 1,100 meters of land pipes on both islands.
The chosen material is polyethylene PE100 RC with a diameter of 160 millimeters, designed to withstand marine conditions. According to the Cabildo, this pipeline will ensure a "safer, more efficient, and reliable supply for the coming decades".
The Ordeal of Breakages in 2022 and 2023
The residents of La Graciosa experienced critical episodes in 2022 and 2023, with continuous breakages of the old pipeline. In March 2023, a breakdown left the island without water in the middle of the tourist season, forcing the Water Consortium to transport drinking water in tanks from Lanzarote.
The Cabildo's Water Councillor, Domingo Cejas, has pointed out that "this work completely modernises the supply system" and minimises the risk of new breakdowns. The tendering has been made possible after a complex administrative process, which included the concession of coastal land and environmental assessment.
Reactions and Next Steps
The regional councillor Manuel Miranda has highlighted that "this action is strategic for the water security of La Graciosa". The work is now out to tender and it is expected that the works will begin in the coming months.
For the residents of the eighth island, this news marks the end of a recurring nightmare. "La Graciosa will never again have to experience the anguish of running out of water," assured Betancort. The new pipeline will be operational within twelve months from the start of the works.
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