Gran Canaria’s new Siam Park faces fresh hurdles over water and flood risks

The proposed water park must address major environmental concerns before plans can progress, including its water supply, drainage and impact on the surrounding area

Plans for a new Siam Park in Gran Canaria are facing further hurdles, with environmental requirements highlighting the challenge of supplying millions of litres of water a day while protecting nearby communities from flooding.

The proposed attraction at El Veril, near Playa del Inglés, would need around 3.56 million litres of water every day, equivalent to the consumption of more than 20,000 residents. Its supply must come entirely from desalinated water, either through a new facility built for the development or by expanding existing desalination plants.

The new requirements come just weeks after Tenerife’s Siam Park was named Europe’s best water park for the 15th consecutive year, a contrast with the continuing difficulties facing its proposed sister attraction in Gran Canaria.

The environmental assessment, published on Tuesday October 13, also requires the developers to explain how wastewater will be treated and consider collecting and storing rainwater. Existing desalination plants serving Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés cannot simply be assumed to have enough spare capacity to meet the extra demand.

Water is not the only concern. The proposed development lies in an area vulnerable to flooding, with the Buenavista ravine and several connected channels carrying water towards Playa de las Burras.
Further studies must establish whether existing drainage channels need to be widened or other protective measures introduced. The assessment also requires the potential effects of climate change to be considered.

The plans must also include a traffic study examining how the arrival of visitors would affect access to the attraction. The wider development would include a hotel with approximately 450 beds, adding to the need to assess its impact on the surrounding area.

Other requirements cover wastewater, noise and light pollution, carbon emissions, biodiversity and the protection of archaeological heritage. The plans must also explain how the buildings and landscaping would fit into the coastal landscape, including measures to protect native vegetation and avoid obstructing coastal views.

Environmental groups have raised concerns about the location. Ben Magec-Ecologistas en Acción has warned about the consequences of building in a flood-prone ravine, with spokesperson Eugenio Reyes cautioning that extreme rainfall could overwhelm drainage infrastructure.

The group has also questioned whether the island's land and water resources should be committed to the project while other needs remain.

The latest environmental requirements do not mean the project has been cancelled, but neither do they grant permission for construction to begin. The plans must address the outstanding issues as the approval process continues, and no confirmed completion date has been provided in the information available.

Image: edited with AI