The Barcelo Playa Blanca Hotel has requested permission from the Insular Water Council of Lanzarote to install a desalination plant for its own use. This hotel, the latest accommodation establishment built on the island of Lanzarote, requires an average of 500 cubic metres of water a day to service its 1,500 guests.
Currently, this water is supplied by Canal Gestión, so the Insular Water Council will assess whether the proposal meets the technical and environmental requirements outlined in the recently approved Lanzarote Hydrological Plan.
This plan allows private entities to build desalination plants for self-consumption, provided they do not sell water to third parties.
The tourism sector has expressed significant concern over Lanzarote's ongoing water crisis, which has persisted for several years but has worsened this year leading to extreme water shortages on the island.
In response to the escalating situation, the president of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, is set to present a proposal to declare a water emergency to the parliament and the Insular Water Council in the next few days.
This declaration would enable swift execution of the so-called "Salvation Plan," which includes an initial investment of 90 million euros over the next two to three years, to renovate the most outdated and leaky water distribution networks and includes constructing a new, modern desalination plant with a capacity of 20,000 cubic metres, which will address the island's current daily water deficit that leads to frequent water cuts.
Currently, there are approximately 50 small desalination plants owned by tourist complexes on the island, producing around 15,000 cubic metres of water daily, according to industry sources.
The hotel's initiative reflects a broader concern within the tourism industry about water scarcity and infrastructure challenges. By wanting to establish its own desalination facility, the hotel aims to ensure a reliable water supply for its guests while reducing pressure on the island's public resources.
