Concerns Over Water Quality Monitoring in Tenerife Beaches
Debate surrounding water quality at Tenerife’s beaches is intensifying. The Canary Islands’ government, through its General Directorate of Public Health, is assessing bathing areas for bacteria and other microorganisms. However, in cases where untreated sewage has been discharged for years, the only action taken has been the use of hypochlorite to disinfect the water before it’s released.
The Canary Environmental Consultants Association (Aeccm) has raised questions about the current treatment system, citing a lack of public information and transparency regarding the scientific basis for using methods that involve organochlorine compounds. These substances may form when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water.
In Tenerife, more than 100 unregulated discharge points exist, accounting for roughly half of such locations across the Canary Islands. Government officials have repeatedly acknowledged the need for better infrastructure and qualified personnel to manage wastewater.
When chlorine is added to wastewater containing high levels of organic material, potentially cancer-causing chemicals can develop. Among these are trihalomethanes, which pose long-term health risks to bathers and significant ecological damage.
In response, Aeccm has filed a formal request for transparency, demanding evidence that no risks are associated with organochlorine contaminants if adequate detection measures are not in place. They argue that when authorities claim there is no pollution or health risk, they should provide scientifically verified data accessible to the public.
Juan Rumeu, president of the platform, emphasised the public’s right to know not only what is tested but also what is not tested and the reasons for any omissions. He referenced recent judicial actions related to Playa Jardín, where the Environmental Prosecutor identified ongoing discharge of wastewater and significant shortcomings in sewage systems.
Despite requests for clarification, the General Directorate of Public Health has merely stated that they are “studying the request” and directed inquiries to their website for existing regulations and monitoring programmes.
Current regulations, according to Royal Decree 1341/2007, include periodic inspections and testing of beach waters for microbiological contamination, mainly focusing on bacteria such as Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci, but they do not address potential hypochlorite use or specific monitoring for related contaminants.
Aeccm is now seeking full access to the scientific protocols employed to detect chlorine derivatives in bathing waters, analysis results from the past decade, and technical assessments of the health risks posed by these substances. They also want clarity on whether existing bacterial monitoring is sufficient to rule out chemical risks from wastewater treatment processes.
As of now, Aeccm has received no responses. Rumeu stressed the public’s right to information, stating that in a democratic society, combating public concern is not about demanding blind trust in institutions, but rather about facilitating access to all relevant scientific data.
These issues are not new and mirror international precedents. The World Health Organization advocates for chemical risk assessments when potential contamination sources exist. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency includes disinfection by-product evaluations in its potable and recreational water control programmes, and European Directives allow member states to monitor additional parameters when public health may be impacted. The overarching question remains straightforward: “Is the situation being managed properly in the Canary Islands?”
