Since 2005, Sacyr Water, through EMMASA (Empresa Mixta de Aguas de Santa Cruz de Tenerife), has been managing the integrated water cycle for the 209,000 Santa Cruz de Tenerife residents, i.e., it is responsible for the collection, desalination, treatment, distribution, sewerage, purification, and regeneration activities of this city.
To undertake this essential work on an island where water scarcity forces it to look for new sources of water, we have a multidisciplinary and versatile team of 180 people with a common goal: to supply quality water to the people of Tenerife under the highest standards of efficiency and sustainability.
Digitalization
Among the actions it is currently undertaking is the modernization and digitalization of the water cycle to reduce losses in distribution systems and improve wastewater treatment infrastructures. Among the improvements are the replacement of the meters with electronic ones, or the installation of sensors throughout the cycle, increasing its efficiency.
This project has an €11 million investment and will be 50% subsidized by European Next Generation funds.
Desalination plant
The desalination plant is a benchmark infrastructure on the island thanks to its innovative system. To carry out the desalination process, seawater is first collected, filtered in sand filters and treated by reverse osmosis. This innovative process uses an energy recovery system in which almost all the energy contained in the brine is recovered, allowing for a better energy consumption ratio.
The infrastructure has three reverse osmosis racks, and for every 100 liters of water we take from the sea, 47 liters go to the drinking water supply.
Thus, almost 60% of the water consumed in Santa Cruz de Tenerife comes from the desalination plant.
