Nearly half of the residents in the municipality of Arafo, on the east coast of Tenerife, are reaching two weeks without usable tap water for drinking and food preparation, despite efforts to resolve the issue due to high bacteria levels.
The initial announcement that it was contaminated estimated that restrictions would be lifted by last Wednesday following the cleaning of filters in the Majuelo reservoir. However, the Health Department continues to advise against consuming the water even if boiled.
The contamination, caused by the bacteria Clostridium perfringens, has seen reduced levels, but the ban on drinking water remains until at least next Tuesday, pending results from tests conducted on Monday.
Mayor Juan Ramón Martín has said there are improvements in bacterial levels and explained there are ongoing efforts to prevent a recurrence of the problem. "We are laying the groundwork for long-term solutions in addition to addressing the current crisis," he said.
"We cannot provide a definitive date, but we expect the restrictions to last until at least Tuesday," he added. He acknowledged the progress made with filtration and disinfection but cautioned that some parameters still necessitate the continued ban on drinking the water.
Aqualia, the water company responsible, confirmed that the restriction on water consumption, that started on Tuesday, July 16th, remains in effect for several areas, including the town centre, La Hidalga, and El Carretón. While water for drinking and food preparation is restricted, it can be used for washing clothes, personal hygiene, and cleaning dishes.
The company continues to provide potable water via two tankers in affected areas. These trucks are available from 9:00am to 2:00pm and 4:00pm to 8:00pm.
