Holidaymakers planning a sun-drenched escape to the Canary Islands may find their beach plans unexpectedly disrupted. A significant number of coastal areas across Spain and its popular islands have been forced to close due to serious pollution concerns and alleged public health risks.
EU Court Delivers Damning Verdict on Wastewater Failures
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has revealed that beloved tourist destinations have systematically failed to manage sewage discharge effectively in specific regions. The court's investigation, which examined the situation as of 2020, found that discharges into the sea were inadequately monitored, with insufficient collection and treatment processes in place.
Twelve Tenerife Locations Found in Breach
The CJEU specifically condemned twelve locations across Tenerife for breaching European wastewater regulations. Affected areas include:
- San Isidro
- Adeje
- Puerto de Santiago
- Arona
- Candelaria
- Playa la Arena
- The Orotava Valley
These locations have been impacted by improper sewage collection systems, raising serious environmental and health concerns.
Health Warnings Issued for Beach Users
The Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature (ATAN) has issued stark warnings about potential health risks for those using affected beaches. The association alleges that Tenerife has jeopardised the health of both local residents and tourists for years through inadequate sewage management.
This is not a new problem for the region. Spain received a substantial €12 million (approximately £10.4 million) fine in 2019 for repeatedly breaching environmental rules, with an additional penalty of €10.9 million (around £9.4 million) levied every six months the issue remained unresolved. Areas including Valle de Güímar in Tenerife were implicated in these previous violations.
Recent Beach Closures Highlight Ongoing Crisis
The sewage and drainage systems across Tenerife continue to prove ineffective, particularly during flood conditions. This recurring issue has led to direct consequences for tourists.
In 2024, authorities banned swimming at Playa Jardin in Puerto de la Cruz after water contamination was discovered during E.coli testing. The beach remained closed for nearly a year following the detection of wastewater pollution.
Gran Canaria Also Affected by Marine Pollution
The pollution crisis extends beyond Tenerife. In November, Canary Island government officials closed at least twelve beaches and issued a marine pollution alert across six municipalities on the east and south coast of Gran Canaria.
Affected municipalities include:
- Ingenio
- Telde
- Agüimes
- Santa Lucía de Tirajana
- San Bartolomé de Tirajana
- Mogán
The precautionary closures followed the detection of a spill of decomposing organic material off the coast. Officials explained that the decision was made 'in the presence of an episode of marine pollution, due to the dumping of decomposing organic matter from facilities located in the sea, off the coast of Telde'.
Analysis suggests the material originated from aquaculture activities located offshore, further complicating the pollution challenges facing the Canary Islands' tourism-dependent economy.
With the CJEU judgment highlighting systemic failures and sanctions looming if improvements aren't made, the pressure is mounting on Spanish authorities to address these critical environmental and public health issues that threaten both the local ecosystem and the vital tourism industry.
