The water extracted from the Famara massif comes to Arrecife, through the corresponding channels, whose perforations had begun years before. However, the system proved insufficient given the growing consumption of the population of Arrecife.
Prior to and during those dates, in each Lanzarote home the sky was looked upon awaiting scarce rainwater with the hope of filling traditional aljibes (water tanks and cisterns) where the water was stored, once it had flowed from the roof tops and surfaces blanched for this purpose.

Campesando guindando agua en su aljibe
As these practices were insufficient, Lanzarote received from time to time shipments of drinking water from Gran Canaria and Tenerife aboard the famous “correíllos”, ships with tanks for this purpose. Once unloaded in the port of Arrecife, the barrels were transported in camels and cars or pumped to a tank located in the commercial dock and where the neighbors could resort to supply. With the “aguadores”, the distribution system was completed.

Aguador con su carro

Descarga de agua del “correíllo”