We reported on this at Maspalomas24H because it was obvious that the way to get rid of apartment owners in Playa del Inglés, Maspalomas, and San Agustín was to apply business rates to their businesses. Then, the vacation home employers' association sent us a group of digital kestrels from Las Palmas, who began attacking us on social media; but it's just common sense. If a vacation home, mostly owned by public officials and heirs who bought it in the south of the island during the Franco regime, is a business, it's logical that the company should pay for water, electricity, and waste.
In Las Palmas, this measure will come into effect in 2025, and the price of water alone for a three-bedroom vacation rental will increase by nearly 3%. This will mean that many vacation homes in Las Palmas are no longer available for rent, as during the peak tourist months, excluding the bad weather and bad weather on Las Canteras beach, there are five months of raw business.
Water consumption between tourists and residents varies significantly due to the habits and needs of each group. According to studies on the impact of tourism on water resource use, a tourist can consume between 300 and 800 liters of water per day, and the average water consumption of a resident in the Canary Islands is around 150 liters per person per day, a figure considerably lower than that of tourists. However, it's not just about producing water; it's also about managing sewer sanitation and maintenance. In other words, keeping sewer pipes free of blockages.
The new water supply tariff schedule includes significant changes: elimination of minimum consumption, the incorporation of concepts such as sanitation and treatment, and the creation of new user profiles, differentiating between domestic and professional consumption. These adjustments will entail an increase in the price of water, estimated to be between €5 and €44 annually from 2026 to 2029.
The proposal has generated opposition from several sectors, particularly the tourism sector. The Canary Islands Vacation Rental Association (Ascav) has criticized the rate increase, considering it excessive and discriminatory. Ascav highlights the impact on vacation homes, with increases of up to 133,96% in rates for three-bedroom properties.
Las Palmas City Council has responded by justifying the new prices by updating concepts such as sewer maintenance and wastewater treatment rates, which had not been adjusted since 2009. It also argues that these modifications are aligned with European directives and national regulations, promoting a pricing policy based on the "polluter pays" principle. The City Council maintains that the new prices seek to ensure efficient and rational water consumption, in addition to covering operating costs and improving the sustainability of the service.
