Charges Filed Against Six Officials Over Playa Jardín Pollution

The Environmental Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against six public officials concerning the contamination of Playa Jardín, a well-known beach in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife. The beach was closed to the public for nearly a year due to faecal contamination, which posed significant risks to public health and tourism.

Those accused include:

• Alberto Bernabé, former head of the Tourism Department of the Cabildo de Tenerife (until 2019).
• Marco González, former mayor of Puerto de la Cruz.
• Blanca Pérez, island Environment Councillor.
• Javier Dávara, manager of the Island Water Council (CIATF).
• David Hernández and Alberto Cabo, councillors of Puerto de la Cruz.

The charges stem from repeated reports of environmental breaches, negligence in infrastructure management, and failures in water quality monitoring.

Evidence of Pollution and Neglect

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the municipality has “significant deficiencies in its sanitation network”. Many households remain unconnected to the sewage system, resulting in domestic wastewater being released directly into cesspools.

The brief notes that in July 2024, the Puerto de la Cruz City Council officially closed Playa Jardín after a report from the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) on 21 June 2024 confirmed severe water degradation. This report urged immediate action from the Regional Ministry of Ecological Transition to prevent further faecal contamination and microbiological risks.

Failures in Wastewater Treatment and Infrastructure

• Valle de La Orotava Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP): Located near Punta Brava and under the Cabildo’s responsibility, it should undergo annual inspections, repairs, and monitoring. However, no records of such maintenance were found.
• Pumping Stations: Two stations near the beach operated without the legally required authorisation. In 2023, the Canary Islands Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment issued sanctions, but the authorisations were never regularised.
• Outfall Leaks: An underwater inspection in July 2020 detected a leak in the submarine outfall at Punta Brava. Repairs were only completed in June 2023, three years later.

The Prosecutor’s report also indicates that between January and June 2024, emergency spillways were activated, causing unauthorised discharges directly into the sea.

Long-Term Degradation of Water Quality

Over 600 inspections and water samples collected by the Directorate-General for Public Health between 2020 and 2024 confirm the presence of faecal microbiological agents.

• Water quality indicators have deteriorated significantly since 2018.
• Classification shifted from “good” (2021) to “sufficient” (2023), and finally to “insufficient” in 2024.
• The Cabildo’s monitoring programme, in place since 2016, consistently failed to guarantee safe bathing conditions, either biologically or structurally.

Despite the closure, the Cabildo reportedly limited its intervention to “provisional repairs” of the outfall, rather than addressing the outdated infrastructure. A permanent solution would require replacing at least 240 metres of the submarine outfall.

Health Risks and Expert Findings

The Prosecutor highlights the serious health consequences of untreated wastewater in bathing areas. Urban sewage carries pathogenic microorganisms linked to:

• Gastroenteritis
• Respiratory infections
• Diarrhoea and vomiting
• Myocarditis and meningitis

Analyses conducted by Seprona (the environmental branch of the Civil Guard) further revealed that:

• The WWTP was inadequately treating wastewater.
• A persistent smell of chlorine was detected, with its use not recommended in such contexts.
• Faecal bacteria were present at levels detrimental to beach water quality.

Responsibility and Legal Action

The Public Prosecutor’s Office holds the Puerto de la Cruz City Council primarily responsible for ensuring that Playa Jardín remains clean, hygienic, and safe for public use.

By failing to act on repeated reports, neglecting necessary infrastructure repairs, and permitting unauthorised discharges, six officials now face charges of environmental negligence and mismanagement of public infrastructure.