The Consistory and the company responsible for water service in San Fernando will allocate a social fund of 50,000 euros by 2020 to pay the bills of San Fernando families in vulnerable situations

The mayor of San Fernando, Patricia Cavada, and the manager of Hidralia San Fernando, José Luis Trapero, have renewed the protocol of action aimed especially at families and vulnerable groups in the city to ensure access to water for the islanders. The protocol sets out a series of actions to combat water poverty and economic vulnerability in which some local citizens are located and to ensure the provision of water to all citizens.

The signing for the renewal of this measure, which has been in place in the city since 2015, was also attended by the Delegate of Sustainable Development, Ignacio Bermejo, and the Councillor for Social Policies, Virginia Barrera.

The renewal of the protocol includes a new heading for 2020 of 50,000 euros for the Social Fund, intended to pay the bills of those island families in vulnerable situations that cannot cope with water receipts, accredited by the Social Services of the City Council. During 2019, it was 360 families who hosted the Fund, which amounted to a bonus amount of more than 56,000 euros, which it has been able to cope with thanks to the existing remnant of previous years.

The protocol also provides for the strengthening of the dissemination of bonuses to large families, who are rewarded with 50% of the consumption on invoices from the second and third block of consumption. In 2019, 232 requests were accepted that were accommodated in this bonus modality.

Likewise, to help those people and collectives who for some circumstances cannot cope with specific payments of the invoice are included different payment commitments designed to suit their payment. In addition, the City Council and Hidralia have agreed that, during the Christmas period, between today and 6 January, no islander will suffer water cuts for non-payment.

Users interested in knowing these aids can go either to the Hidralia office or to the Social Services of the City of San Fernando to find out about them. They can also be found through the customer service office, the website and the concessionaire's free phone number: 900 555 556.

After the signing, the first building has recalled that "the City Council has a social commitment when it comes to providing its services, and we strive to respond to those who need it most". For this reason, "in addition to working for sustainable use of resources we want to improve the quality of life of islanders and islanders and put in place measures so that families who have more difficulties can meet their needs," he added.

Cavada has highlighted the role of the technical staff of the Municipal Social Services and the company Hidralia to implement this protocol and quickly serve users with difficulties in dealing with invoices.
For his part, the manager of Hidralia in San Fernando has recalled since 2015 when the first protocol was made "we carry more than 200,000 euros for social aid with an annual average of beneficiary families from between 300 and 400 families, which adds up to more than 1,500 families who have received this support to pay for the water supply and guarantee the supply to their home". "It is a commitment to society on the part of Hidralia and will be maintained throughout the period of the concession," said Trapero.

The mayor and the manager of Hidralia have reported that work continues to expand current bonuses and social actions for the benefit of vulnerable clients by ensuring access to water. Thus, progress is being made to be able to implement the minimum vital supply of 100 liters per inhabitant per day to ensure that no one runs out of water because they cannot pay the receipt.