EU Court condemns Spain over sewage problems, with Tenerife a key culprit
Poor wastewater treatment is now one of the biggest environmental and public health problems facing the Canary Islands. The European Union has been warning Spain for years that sewage is not being properly collected and treated in many areas, particularly in the Islands.
This week, the European Court of Justice ruled that Spain is breaking EU law by failing to meet basic wastewater treatment standards. The decision covers 29 urban areas across the country, with Tenerife standing out as one of the worst affected. Twelve of the areas named by the court are on the island.
The case began with a formal warning from the European Commission in 2021. Although some improvements were made, Brussels decided in 2023 that progress was too slow and took Spain to court. The ruling does not yet include financial penalties, but it is an official condemnation. If the problems are not fixed, the EU can impose heavy fines in the future.
Following the judgment, the Tenerife Cabildo responded by saying it is not directly responsible for the situation. Although the island authority plans water management through the Island Water Council, it argues that many towns grew over decades without the sewage infrastructure needed to support them. According to the Cabildo, this long-term lack of investment is the root of the problem.
Island officials also stressed that the court decision looks at the situation as it was in 2020, based on data collected up to April of that year, and does not reflect current conditions. They say investment in sewage and wastewater treatment on Tenerife is now at its highest level ever, with many treatment plants and pipelines already finished, under construction or fully funded. The Cabildo insists it is now leading the solution.
In its ruling, the court said Spain failed to ensure proper sewage collection systems in several parts of Tenerife, including areas of Adeje, Arona, Candelaria, San Isidro, Puerto de Santiago, Playa la Arena, the Orotava Valley and other parts of the south and metropolitan area of the island. In these same locations, the court found that wastewater was not receiving the required level of treatment before being released.
The judges also ruled that Spain failed to properly monitor sewage discharges to check whether they met EU standards. This lack of control was identified in tourist and residential areas such as Adeje-Arona, Golf del Sur, Acantilado de los Gigantes, Puerto de Santiago and the Orotava Valley.
The decision puts added pressure on national, regional and island authorities to speed up long-delayed improvements. If the problems continue, Spain could face significant EU fines in the coming years.
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