Can you drink the tap water in the Canary Islands? Where does the water come from? What are the common contaminants and issues? How is bottled water? What is the best water filter for the Canary Islands? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you were born on one of these beautiful islands, moving to or just visiting it might be good to know about the water quality in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will try to answer all of these questions and more below. For a short answer jump to the conclusion at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where does the tap water in the Canary Islands come from?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The water problems in the Canary Islands are closely related to the scarcity of natural resources and the high population density, in addition to the peculiar island orography. That is why water has conditioned the development and distribution of its inhabitants. Throughout history, water resources have diminished or have simply been polluted by the action of man in our economic development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of the islands except Fuerteventura had sufficient water to sustain the inhabitants including food production until the 1960s. Starting at the end of the 19th century locals built over 1500 water galleries<\/a> for agriculture and water consumption using mountain aquifers. Some of them are still in use today. The galleries are present in all the Canary Islands except Fuerteventura of which 65% are located in Tenerife, 24% in Gran Canaria and 10% in La Palma. Of the 106 water mines in Gran Canaria, almost all from Telde (the municipality with the largest quantity) to La Aldea de San Nicol\u00e1s, only 20% are still in operations today or about 50% of the total water supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today many of the aquifers supplying them have either gone dry, been polluted by salt water or simply don\u2019t provide sufficient amounts of quality water to fulfil any needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: https:\/\/www.eldiario.es\/canariasahora\/premium-en-abierto\/islas-sedientas-agua-entranas-tierra_1_3162481.html<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the tap water found throughout the Canary Islands today is therefore now desalinated sea water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Desalinated water in the Canary Islands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe sea was transformed in to a great reservoir.\u201d<\/p>– D. Manuel D\u00edaz Rijo<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The first desalination plant in Europe was installed in Lanzarote in 1964 and that in the last 50 years this autonomous community has been a benchmark in which other parts of the world have been inspired to treat water. According to the Government of the Canary Islands there are 22 that guarantee public supply, although those of a private nature are added to them. Historically it was very expensive but thanks to technology innovations the cost of building and maintaining has gone down in recent years. today the technology used is reverse osmosis, which allows the salt to be removed through membranes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Desalination saved the life of the Canary Islands, without it we could not receive 16 million tourists a year,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Gran Canaria, 86% of the water for human consumption is desalinated, and 50% of the total supplied is desalinated. In Tenerife, an island with more water resources, they increasingly depend on desalination: it represents 47% of the consumption in Tenerife’s homes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: https:\/\/elpais.com\/politica\/2018\/01\/20\/actualidad\/1516475753_444638.html<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the reasons why tap water tastes different from bottled water is that, once desalinated, the water must be treated so that it is fully distilled. According to the regulations, it is necessary to add minimum amounts of chlorination to minimize the presence of bacteria. It is also re-treated by remineralization since, in the process, so much salt is removed that it is necessary to balance that water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of the dependency on desalmaron one of the Canary Islands’ challenges is to minimize the energy used. In recent years the canaries have incorporated renewable energy on a larger scale into the entire desalination process and water cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How is the tap water in the Canary Islands regulated and treated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First of all those responsible for the water are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

• The Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumption<\/a> with regulation that adheres to the EU safe water act<\/li>
• The health authorities of Canary Islands.<\/li>
• The Town Hall of each municipality<\/li>
• The supplying company \/ water supplier or in case of some hotels the property<\/li>
• Each owner of interior facilities within a property<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

  Spanish national legislation and European directives ensure that drinking water is clean and wholesome, removing or reducing the concentration of microbiological and physical-chemical contaminants that can have repercussions for human health. According to the legislation, Royal Decree 140\/2003, public bodies guarantee that you can drink tap water in the Canary Islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The water of the Canary Islands is also subject to continuous analysis following the guidelines of the Program for Sanitary Surveillance of Water for Human Consumption of the Government of the Canary Islands. Over 100,000 tests are conducted every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Water is collected and treated by private and public companies throughout the archipelago. The biggest private water supplier is Canaragua owned by the international company Suez and the Itochu Group. They provide over 280,000 households and businesses with tap water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Source: Canargua<\/a>  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Is the tap water in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and the other islands safe to drink?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  Yes, all public tap water in the Canary Islands is drinkable unless the local authorities state otherwise. The tap water adheres to the same strict standards as the water in Germany, Sweden, UK or France. It\u2019s a longstanding myth today that the water is of poor quality or could give you a bad tummy. However, having said this, it often doesn’t taste particularly good and therefore most locals buy bottled water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  If you are visiting and in doubt, ask: \u201c\u00bfEs potable el agua (de grifo)?\u201d (Is the (tap) water drinkable?).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Check out our water quality database<\/a> that covers about 75% of the population of the Canary Islands to find out the content of your tap water.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Why does the tap water taste bad?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

  One of the reasons why tap water tastes very different from tap water in other places or bottled water is because when it is desalinated it needs to be treated so that it is completely distilled. As part of this, the regulations stipulate that minimum amounts of chlorine must be added to minimize the existence of bacteria when it reaches your faucet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  After these treatments have been carried out to ensure that you can drink tap water in the Canary Islands, this water undergoes a remineralization process, removing excess salts so that the water has a more palatable taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  The easiest way to get great tasting tap water is to get an affordable water filter such as TAPP. Another alternative to make the water taste a bit better is to let it rest for 6-12 hours in a jug to reduce its chlorine taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  For information about tap water in Canary Islands see the local government information<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  What is the tap water like across the different islands?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n