The Council of Tenerife announced yesterday that repair work will commence tomorrow on the leak identified in the Punta Brava underwater outfall in Puerto de la Cruz. This leak is one of the main reasons for the decline in the quality of seawater in the area, leading to the closure of Playa Jardín. The Tenerife Island Water Council (Ciatf) has awarded the contract for the work, with the initial phase estimated to cost 39,800 euros.
Yesterday, the Minister for the Environment, Blanca Pérez, clarified that professional divers will conduct the repair work to address the small leak promptly. The repair will involve using quick-drying mortar for water leaks and high-performance injectable epoxy resin.
Fixing the leak necessitates halting the discharge of treated wastewater through the underwater outfall. Therefore, from 09.30 until 20.00 tomorrow and Monday, the treated wastewater from the regional treatment plant in the La Orotava Valley will be diverted through the relief system. The final section of this system drains into the slope downstream of Camino Burgado (TF-316), by the regional treatment plant. As a result, the town councils of Puerto de la Cruz and Los Realejos have been urged to take the necessary precautions in the area to ensure the safety of potential users, as stated by the Cabildo.
The Port City Council issued a statement yesterday regarding these works, following a report from the consultancy Wet Hidráulica y Marítima, confirming elevated levels of bacterial contamination in the vicinity of the leak.
Notably, this study represents the first analysis conducted in the area in four years since the fissure was identified by the Cabildo and the Government. Furthermore, the Directorate of Coasts of the Government of the Canary Islands is actively working to secure authorisation for the comprehensive repair of 240 metres of the outfall, deemed crucial by the council.
During the meeting, various short, medium, and long-term actions to be taken by the involved administrations were discussed. These actions aim to not only partially or completely reopen Playa Jardín, as requested by the City Council to Public Health but also address sanitation network deficiencies persisting for decades in the municipality.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
The Mayor, Marco González, also outlined the efforts made by the council to enhance the sewage system during the meeting. He emphasised the submission of a detailed order to Ciatf for the continued processing of the project for expanding and improving the wastewater treatment plant. This step seeks to fast-track the tendering process for the emergency works.
The local socialist government emphasises the importance of inter-administrative collaboration among all institutions involved to effectively resolve this issue. The ultimate goal is to comprehensively enhance the coastal area encompassing Playa Jardín, the Punta Brava neighbourhood, and the entire coastline of the municipality.
