The wastewater discharges that have necessitated the closure of Playa Jardín do not originate directly from the underwater outfall, but instead stem from the absence of connection to the sewage system for the residences in the Punta Brava neighbourhood. This was revealed by analyses conducted by divers during the operation to seal the underwater outfall in this area, as confirmed yesterday to this publication by the president of the Cabildo of Tenerife, Rosa Dávila, when questioned regarding this issue, which is currently a focal point of the municipal government’s agenda and has become a significant concern for users of the beach complex, where swimming remains discouraged, resulting in repercussions for the tourist destination of Puerto de la Cruz.
The president declared that the island authority will allocate one million euros to connect approximately 450 homes to the sewage network, a task that the city council “cannot undertake independently as it would be exceedingly complicated, despite being within its jurisdiction, and has needed addressing for years.” “This is crucial in ensuring that the bathing water at Playa Jardín is suitable for enjoyment once more,” she stated yesterday.
Dávila affirmed their efforts to ensure that the council can take advantage of an emergency decree which would facilitate addressing this problem “as soon as possible”, given that it has persisted for an extended period. In this context, the mayor, Leopoldo Afonso, is optimistic about obtaining the necessary legal and technical reports as this will expedite legal and administrative timelines, enabling a resolution “as swiftly as possible,” with the intention of making the beach suitable for swimming next summer with all the necessary assurances.
Purification plant
The island president underscored that the lack of connection to the sewage network has led to other repercussions, such as placing additional strain on the Punta Brava treatment plant, a regional facility established in the 1980s, which processes wastewater from the municipalities of Los Realejos and La Orotava and is at maximum capacity. In this regard, she mentioned that the Cabildo will invest 20 million euros in this project, which has also been declared an emergency.
“The outfall will be sealed and the treatment plant will undergo expansion, which is a significant action; however, concurrently, we must collaborate with the city council on an issue that likely should have been resolved years ago: ensuring the safety of the waters at Playa Jardín, and that will be our primary focus,” she asserted.
