Fuerteventura Ends Water Crisis After Years of Effort and Investment

Fuerteventura is no longer in a water‑emergency situation. This was announced today by the Cabildo of Fuerteventura and the Island Water Council, in a press meeting chaired by the island president Lola García, the Water Counselor Adargoma Hernández, and the managers of the CIAF Domingo Montañez and the CAAF Francisco Javier Hormiga. They confirmed that the island has been out of emergency status since 2 September, after years of effort and investment. Other island‑government counselors were also present.

Fuerteventura had endured an unsustainable situation: prolonged cuts, insufficient production, deteriorated networks and limited reservoirs. The water emergency, first declared in 2020 and again in 2023, had to be maintained. In response, the Cabildo, through the Infrastructure Department, the CAAF and the Island Water Council, devised a strategy of works and investments that has markedly improved conditions since 2023. Coordinated action by Cabildo staff, the CAAF, the CIAF and the municipalities now yields more water production and storage than ever in the island’s history.

After analysing the CAAF technical reports, the Island Water Council has proposed not extending the water emergency in Fuerteventura.

“More than 60 % of the emergency works have been completed, and we expect to finish the rest by 2026,” explained President Lola García, highlighting a historic investment of over €60 million to achieve this.

“The effort has also reduced water cuts by more than 80 % across the island, although we will not be satisfied until the situation is definitively improved,” García added.

The Water Counselor, Adargoma Hernández, pointed out major advances:

• Expansion of desalination plants in Puerto del Rosario, Corralejo and Gran Tarajal, reaching a record production of almost 50,000 m³ per day—a 66 % increase over 2023.
• Construction of new, modern reservoirs in La Herradura, Tamaragua and Guerime, boosting storage capacity by 40 %.
• Renewal of distribution networks in Corralejo, Puerto del Rosario, Gran Tarajal and numerous localities, sharply reducing leaks.
• Completion of strategic pipelines linking key reservoirs.
• Water purchases from third parties cut by 90 %.
• Energy consumption of the CAAF reduced by 70 %.

These measures have created a more efficient hydraulic system capable of responding to unforeseen events.

“The emergency ends, but the commitment does not. Hydraulic works remain our priority. We will continue with the planned roadmap to carry out the necessary actions so that the situation does not recur in Fuerteventura,” explained Lola García.

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura also thanks citizens for their patience and effort amid the inconveniences caused by the works undertaken and those still pending, as well as the collaboration of municipalities and the Government of the Canary Islands.