Residents of Los Abrigos, a coastal town in the south of Tenerife, are voicing growing frustration over persistent brown tap water that has plagued the area for several years. Despite emergency works started in October 2024, the problem remains unresolved, prompting anger and demands for accountability.
The discoloured water, believed to be caused by oxidised material in ageing pipes, has disrupted daily life and raised concerns over health and safety. Although local authorities identified the source of the contamination as a deteriorated pipeline and initiated repairs under former mayor Jennifer Miranda, progress appears slow, and communication scarce.
Community Anger Mounts
Alexis Tardella, president of the Los Abrigos Neighbourhood Association, told Atlántico Hoy that residents have received no updates since the initial October meeting. “For some, the water is getting even browner. We’ve heard nothing more since then,” he said, echoing the community’s growing despair.
Social media has become an outlet for public outrage. One resident posted images of murky brown water gushing from taps, saying, “This is disgusting. The boiler I installed just a year ago is now ruined. This water is killing us.” Others have called for a collective refusal to pay water bills from 1st August, launching a petition in protest.
“This water is revolting. We should get it tested and sue the council,” said another local, citing the corrosion as the result of outdated infrastructure. “Our skin is reacting to it. Last week, it was so muddy you couldn’t even wash with it.”
Some residents are now calling for a class-action lawsuit. “We need a legal team. This has gone far enough. We’re tired of being treated like fools,” one resident posted online.
Council Responds, But Progress Unclear
Although the council claims the works are progressing, there is little clarity on when Los Abrigos residents will see clean water restored. Mayor José Domingo Regalado has reportedly expressed willingness to meet with local representatives, though no date has been confirmed.
The council notes that the first phase of repairs, targeting the La Tejita area, has already been completed with positive results for water quality. The final stage, focusing on the network serving Los Abrigos itself, is still underway.
According to a project update, 1.9 kilometres of new pipeline have already been installed from Sotavento to Reina Sofía Airport. However, connecting this section to the wider network requires authorisation from the Tenerife Island Water Council (CIATF) to deactivate the old galvanised steel pipe that runs parallel to the motorway.
As for the Los Abrigos section, 1.8 kilometres of new piping have been laid and tested up to Calle Rapasaya. This stretch is also awaiting CIATF approval to become operational and connect to adjacent areas, including Sotavento, Las Maretas, and CasaBlanca, effectively replacing the obsolete section.
More than 500 metres of pipeline, buried in accordance with Cabildo requirements, have already been installed. An additional two kilometres of pipeline are in place, and connections are being made across the entire network, following a recent multi-agency agreement that outlines work in hydraulically sensitive areas.
Hope Amid Continued Frustration
Despite visible infrastructure progress, residents remain sceptical, with many arguing that the long-standing water quality issues have already taken too great a toll. As pipe works continue without a definitive end date, trust in local authorities hangs in the balance.
The people of Los Abrigos are still waiting, not just for clean water, but for transparency, accountability, and a tangible resolution to a problem that has persisted far too long.
