The issue of poorly treated water or illegal discharges continues to linger in the Canary Islands, particularly in Tenerife. Year after year, waste water inundates the main coastal areas as the population grows. This year has highlighted the problem more than ever, endangering one of the island’s most renowned tourist spots.
Following a report from the General Directorate of Public Health, the Puerto de la Cruz City Council declared on July 3 that swimming along Playa Jardín’s entire coast is prohibited due to contamination from waste water. Specifically, the presence of Escherichia coli bacteria, commonly known as E. coli, was detected, posing health risks such as gastrointestinal problems, respiratory infections, and issues with the ears, eyes, nose, and skin.
According to DIARY OF NOTICES, the Portuense City Council has stated that “the closure will remain in place indefinitely” until water conditions improve, possibly lasting throughout the summer. The decision to ban bathing was not made solely based on a single test result but due to a concerning trend of increasing contamination levels.
Efforts are underway with relevant authorities to determine the cause of this contamination. The Council suspects a connection between issues like a breakdown in an outfall and an overwhelmed regional treatment plant that also handles water from Los Realejos and La Orotava municipalities. Regular water quality checks are ongoing along the rest of the coast, with San Telmo showing good levels and no incidents for two years.
While no cases of infection related to the Playa Jardín incident have been reported among the population, the impact on marine ecosystems is significant, leading to a decline in algae and seagrass. Documentary filmmaker Felipe Ravina emphasises the additional risk of humans indirectly consuming contaminated water through fish caught in the affected area.
Ravina highlights the hazards of continuing to discharge sewage directly into the sea in the Canary Islands, criticising the delayed beach closure following the test results. Referring to a report by Atlantic Today, revealing bureaucratic delays between Puerto de la Cruz and the Canary Islands Government’s Public Health Department, he insists on holding those responsible accountable for jeopardising bathers’ health during that period.
The filmmaker, famous for his work including Save Tenerife, points out that recent years have seen the approval of outfalls not meeting regulations, impacting protected species like the seba plant and the green turtle. He expresses concern that any coastal area with an outfall on the island could face a similar situation to Playa Jardín. Despite efforts to address this serious issue, with over 200 discharge points into the sea in Tenerife, significant time is needed before noticeable improvements are seen.
Regarding potential future protests, like the one in April demanding a tourism model change in the Canary Islands, Ravina mentions plans for a post-summer mobilisation in tourist spots across the Canaries. More details on this upcoming protest will be announced shortly.
