El Rosario Council is working on a project to independently supply water to the Tenerife II prison Tenerife. This initiative aims to ensure a consistent water supply for the facility, pending the required funding, as reported by the municipal government.

Project Details

Mayor Escolástico Gil explained that the technical project, titled Water Supply and Sanitation Lines from the La Cañada Well to the Tenerife II Prison, is designed to ensure supply continuity in high-demand situations and during restrictions. The document has been submitted to the Tenerife Island Water Council (Ciatf) and the Island Roads Department to gather the necessary sector reports.

A Permanent Solution

Escolástico Gil stressed that implementing this project is the definitive solution to prevent ongoing water supply interruptions. He noted that it “will provide the facility with an independent supply network, promoting the necessary water autonomy and preventing current deficit episodes.” This initiative put forward by the Council is seen as “the right approach to ensuring a secure water supply for the prison.”

Gil expressed hope for support from the State, the Canary Islands Government, and the Cabildo of Tenerife to co-finance a project that will conclusively resolve a structural problem that recurs every summer at minimum.

Concerns Over Water Supply

Escolástico Gil informed Nacho Fernández, the representative for prison staff at Tenerife II and coordinator of the union ‘Tu Abandono Me Puede Matar’ (Tampm), during a meeting held yesterday, which was also attended by union leader Pablo Tortajada.

Tampm has begun a series of demonstrations outside the prison in El Rosario due to the water supply restrictions affecting the facility. These restrictions are expected to continue, as conveyed by the union representative in alignment with the Mayor’s statement, until the General Secretariat of Penitentiary Institutions “resolves a situation affecting the dignity of the workers and, more severely, may also jeopardise their safety.“

Demand for an Internal Audit

Nacho Fernández announced during the meeting that they will request an internal audit to assess the condition of the prison’s internal water network amid suspicions of “significant water losses within.” He explained that “the data on water contribution from El Rosario Council does not match with the restrictions imposed on inmates and staff.” Additionally, he updated the Mayor that they will continue to seek meetings with the Government Subdelegation and other public administrations in the Canary Islands.

Addressing Community Concerns

Escolástico Gil raised concerns about the potential impact not only on the prison but especially on the communities of Llano del Moro and La Esperanza. He emphasised that “the Council has been warning and working on this issue for years, and the problem is not that we do not supply water to the prison, but that the amount we provide cannot be stored due to the inadequate capacity of its reservoir.”

He also highlighted that “we do not know the condition of the internal piping after the 37 years since the establishment of this prison, with no action taken by the State to resolve this issue.”

Nacho Fernández, the coordinator of the union Tampm, cautioned that “if this situation continues indefinitely, it will eventually create significant security risks within the prison.”

Protests and Current Water Supply Issues

The first demonstration by workers at the Tenerife II prison took place last Monday “in protest against the repeated and prolonged water supply cuts affecting the Tenerife prison for several weeks.” Currently, both staff and inmates only have access to water each day from 7:00 to 9:00, 13:00 to 15:00, and 19:00 to 21:00 hours.