Nightly Water Cuts Disrupt Life in Icod de los Vinos
Summer nights in Icod de los Vinos come with an unsettling routine: dry taps. Between 11 PM and 6 AM, thousands of residents lose running water due to scheduled cuts—now totaling 18 interruptions between July and early August. What was once a simple act—turning on the tap for a glass of water or a shower—now requires planning, buckets, and for many, pots to heat water manually. The town hall has enforced these nightly suspensions to ensure daytime supply, a measure expected to continue as summer water consumption rises.
Aging Infrastructure and Rising Demand
The crisis stems from a perfect storm of soaring temperatures, dwindling reservoir levels, and a municipal network so outdated it loses roughly 60% of water in a single cycle. This means Icod’s residents consume more water than the system can replenish. The strain hits hardest in elevated areas, particularly the La Candelaria reservoir. María Angélica Guillermo, a local, notes the cuts disproportionately affect the same streets: “The burden should be shared equally across the municipality.” She also criticizes the lack of advance notice, leaving no time to file complaints when offices are closed.
Residents Adapt to Water Scarcity
For Isabel Ruiz (a pseudonym), low water pressure has become a creeping issue. “The pipes in my building are so old, they’ll burst if this continues,” she says. Her family’s routine is upended by her husband’s work schedule—he returns at 10:30 PM and rises at 5 AM, leaving no window for basic hygiene. They rely on a 20-liter filtered water jug for essentials, resorting to heating water in pots for showers. Others, like Sara Jimenez (also a pseudonym), face murky, aerated water when supply resumes. A recent unannounced cut on August 10 at 3 PM—”the worst time, during peak heat”—left her frustrated.
Mixed Reactions and Calls for Conservation
Not all residents feel the pinch equally. Juan José Afonso acknowledges the necessity of cuts, praising their nighttime timing. He urges greater public awareness, criticizing neighbors who leave showers running for over 10 minutes. While temporary solutions like water filters and pots bridge the gap, the underlying issues—decades of neglected infrastructure and climate pressures—remain unaddressed, leaving Icod’s future water security in question.
