New water regulations for the Canary Islands: what to prepare for a desalination project
An engineering firm planning a desalination plant for a hotel, a farm or an industrial facility needs to relate the equipment to the water source, its intended use and effluent management. The consultation on the Canary Islands’ new water regulations provides a useful opportunity to review this documentation before finalising the technical scope of an investment.
What is under consultation and who may be interested
The official BOC announcement No. 3277 opens a public hearing and consultation on the Integrated Regulation of the Public Water Domain of the Canary Islands. The initiative aims to consolidate and update the provisions on the public water domain, discharges and penalties currently set out in three regulations.
The Government of the Canary Islands explains that the draft addresses desalination, brines, wastewater treatment, reuse and data management, among other matters. These topics are relevant to facility owners, water user associations, developers and engineering firms.
When assessing a new plant or an expansion, the practical approach is to separate two tasks: reviewing applicable permits and requirements with those responsible for the application, and defining the technical scope of supply. Purchasing equipment does not in itself demonstrate the feasibility of the whole project. Nor should a decision be postponed solely on assumptions about the wording of the future regulations.
Technical documentation for desalination plants in the Canary Islands: where to start
Prepare a common data sheet before requesting quotations. It allows the manufacturer, engineering firm, installer and operations manager to work with the same assumptions. Identify the island and municipality, and distinguish measured data from design estimates.
| Input data | Points to clarify |
|---|---|
| Water abstraction and analysis | Water source, representative quality, sampling date and variations to be assessed by the design team. |
| Production and end use | Required flow rate, operating hours, peak demand and water quality needed for irrigation, industrial processes or water supply. |
| Water stream balance | Feed water, permeate, concentrate and backwash or cleaning streams, with their intended destination. |
| Plant layout and interfaces | Space, access, electrical supply, tanks, pumping and connections included in or excluded from the scope of supply. |
| Operation and maintenance | Instrumentation, alarms, records, consumables, access for inspections and responsibility for each task. |
Describe concentrate and cleaning streams separately
In a reverse osmosis proposal, ask for the different streams and the operating conditions used to calculate them to be identified. Do not automatically combine concentrate, filter backwash and cleaning-in-place (CIP) solutions into a single figure without understanding their composition and operation.
The responsible engineering firm must assess the destination of each stream and check the requirements of the application. This article does not propose a universal discharge solution or interpret specific provisions of the draft regulations.
Match pretreatment to actual operating conditions
Ask the proposal to explain the role of filtration, dosing and plant controls. Provide the water analysis and operating schedule; comparing only nominal capacity or the number of membranes is insufficient. For a modular plant, also clarify which components are supplied as integrated units and which works must be carried out on site.
How to compare proposals and resolve all interfaces
For a developer or a company from mainland Spain carrying out a project in the Canary Islands, a scope matrix can avoid confusion: who provides the data, validates the design, supplies the equipment, makes the connections and checks commissioning. Include dates, required documentation and acceptance criteria agreed for the project.
Compare operating costs as well as the initial investment: energy, treatment chemicals, membranes, cartridges, inspections and support requirements. The aim is to understand what each offer includes and the conditions needed for it to operate; do not assume savings without measurements.
If the installation already exists, gather manuals, references and operating records before considering an upgrade. Changing equipment or the design recovery rate may require a review of the whole plant and its documentation; discuss the scope with the engineering firm and the relevant responsible parties.
How to access the consultation documents and submit comments
The Directorate-General for Water publishes the draft, reports and announcement, and gives 19 October 2026 as the closing date for the consultation. The BOC specifies how to submit comments. Consult the current documents before preparing a submission, and distinguish suggestions on the text from the authorisation procedures for your facility.
Coordinate equipment supply and local technical support in the Canary Islands
HidroSoluciones Canarias offers solutions for seawater and brackish water desalination and services for maintenance and spare parts supply for desalination plants. An engineering firm, construction company or facility manager can enquire about the scope of technical collaboration for an installation in Tenerife, Gran Canaria or another island.
Before finalising a proposal, define whether you need equipment selection, supply, installation, commissioning or maintenance. Project support must be coordinated with the responsible engineering firm and the requirements of the application; it does not imply that the company is participating in a public contract or holds a specific administrative authorisation.
Are you planning a desalination plant or an upgrade?
Provide the island and municipality, water use, flow rate, available analysis, project stage and timescales. Specify the equipment supply or local technical support you need to define the scope of a proposal.
Discuss the technical scope of your projectSources and verification date
- BOC of 17 September 2026: official announcement of the public hearing and consultation.
- Directorate-General for Water: consultation documents and timetable.
- Government of the Canary Islands: presentation of the regulatory initiative, 17 September 2026.
Information checked on 3 October 2026. Review the status of the procedure if you consult this article after that date.