The Municipal Council of Puerto de la Cruz, following the assessment conducted by the General Directorate of Public Health, has decreed that the public is prohibited from swimming at the entire Playa Jardín complex due to contamination from wastewater.
In collaboration with the mentioned service of the Canary Islands Government, the Municipal Council will intensify the monitoring of the waters, taking into account all recommendations and alerts from Public Health concerning the water quality based on the aforementioned analyses. This involves establishing a monitoring procedure to verify that as the water analysis evolves, the restrictions on bathing at the beach can be lifted.
To enforce this measure, as of this Thursday, clear informative signs will be placed at all beach entrances in various languages, informing visitors of the temporary restriction on swimming for health and safety reasons. This restriction is due to the confirmed inadequate sanitary condition of the water for bathing caused by contamination from wastewater, identified after bacterial analysis. Escherichia coli has been detected, with epidemiological evidence indicating potential gastrointestinal issues from water ingestion, as well as other health concerns such as respiratory infections and infections in the ears, eyes, nasal passages, and skin.
After reviewing the report submitted by the Health Department of the Canary Islands Government and consulting with a meeting that took place on Tuesday with the General Director of Public Health José Fernando Díaz-Flores, along with the participation of the Environmental Councillor, Blanca Pérez, and the Director of the Island Water Council, Javier Davara, it was communicated that this restriction will remain in place indefinitely. This measure is a response to the ongoing decline in water quality that has persisted, at least since 2016, in the Playa Jardín area and notably worsened in the previous year 2024.
The Public Health report provides a detailed overview of the water condition in various coastal areas of the municipality, highlighting the degradation of water quality in Playa Jardín over recent years – the rating has shifted from excellent to just sufficient, now approaching insufficient. The analysis notes a gradual deterioration in water quality that, as per Public Health, has been constrained mainly to the vicinity of Playa Jardín since 2016.
As per the report, water quality remains excellent in Martiánez and good in San Telmo, with improvements observed in the latter’s condition over the past two years. San Telmo has not faced any contamination incidents since September 2022.
Deterioration in Water Quality Since 2016
The Mayor, Marco González, expressed regret over the potential impact of this decision on the destination’s image, specifically for the island. “However, the critical stance and preventive actions regarding the water quality situation necessitate that we inform and continue collaborating with other governing bodies in the area”. He also expressed optimism that the situation can be rectified “if all authorities prioritise the planned actions, ensuring the required funding is available.”
Under the Well-being Community initiative, alongside the sanitation service provider for the city, efforts have been made to enhance the overall network surrounding the coastal neighbourhood in 2022. A comprehensive study is now underway to identify underlying causes contributing to the deteriorating water quality observed in Playa Jardín. Plans are in place to connect 100% of homes, restaurants, and businesses in the Punta Brava area to the municipality’s general Sanitation network in the upcoming months, with a focus on assessing the coastal environment in collaboration with residents to encourage their active involvement in scrutinising each property.
There are ongoing initiatives to redirect wastewater from La Vera and Las Dehesas directly to the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, bypassing the Playa Jardín Pumping Station.
The Mayor also announced plans to expedite the initiation of the comprehensive rehabilitation project for the sewer, which has reportedly suffered from a crack since at least a year, pending approvals from the Coastal Service of the Canary Islands Government since April 2023, according to the Island Water Council. The Surveillance and Control Programme for the regional wastewater treatment plant in 2023 meets the discharge authorisation requirements into the sea, as per documents provided by the Island Water Council, confirming compliance with environmental regulations.
The council has requested a detailed assessment of the pumping stations and the monitoring programme for the outfall under its purview to gain a thorough understanding of the environmental condition in the region and the operations of the infrastructure managed by the Island Water Council.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to expedite the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant, for which over 25 million Euros in funding was secured in the previous term. The Mayor is awaiting the report from the Western Coast Service, requested by the Island Water Council since April 2023, to support the request.
The council will fast-track procedures to monitor the fissure in the outfall, an annual check-up usually conducted in October, to rule out any acceleration of problems in the Playa Jardín area due to this incident.
