An alert has been raised for the Canary Islands as experts have issued warnings about significant health hazards. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has criticized Spain and specifically the Canary Islands for inadequate management of urban wastewater discharges, with a focus on areas like Tenerife. This has led to the closure of beaches due to pollution, putting the health of thousands of holidaymakers at risk.
The recent ruling by the CJEU highlighted 12 critical sites in Tenerife that lack proper wastewater collection systems and monitoring mechanisms, violating the Urban Wastewater Directive. The Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature (ATAN) has expressed concern over the ongoing health threat to locals and tourists in the region.
In 2025, renowned beaches like Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz were closed due to high levels of E. coli contamination, attributed to sewage system failures. The situation persisted, with visible sewage discharges along the Tenerife coastline, exacerbated by stormy weather conditions in early 2026.
In the past, Spain faced hefty fines from the EU for breaching wastewater regulations, with Tenerife’s Valle de Güímar among the areas mentioned. Despite promised investments in sewage infrastructure, the European criticism underscores the persistent shortcomings in sewage treatment facilities.
The Canary Islands are grappling with water scarcity, strained infrastructure, and heavy reliance on imported food, leading to unsustainable tourism pressures. Calls for a temporary halt to tourism expansion, improved sewage treatment facilities, and stricter residency rules have been made by environmental groups like ATAN.
Island officials have defended their current sewage treatment efforts, emphasizing that recent data does not reflect ongoing improvements in wastewater management on Tenerife. They assert that significant investments have been made to upgrade treatment plants and pipelines to address the environmental concerns raised by the EU and environmental advocates.
