The Tenerife Cabildo has firmly denied recent claims circulating on social media that accuse the Adeje-Arona Wastewater Treatment Plant (EDAR) of discharging toxic substances into the sea.
Speaking through the island’s Water Council (Consejo Insular de Aguas), the authorities labelled the information as “categorically false”, lacking any technical or health-based foundation and designed to generate unwarranted alarm among the public.
According to the Cabildo, there is no irregular discharge into bathing areas, nor any presence of hazardous substances in the water reaching the sea. The EDAR plant, located in southern Tenerife, is operating normally and in full compliance with all current technical, environmental, and health standards.
“No untreated or contaminated water is being discharged into public-use zones,” the Cabildo stated. It also emphasised that all regenerated water from the plant is reused for agricultural irrigation. In fact, over 85% of the treated water is used daily for crop irrigation in areas ranging from San Miguel to Santiago del Teide, an essential resource amid ongoing drought conditions.
One of the factors fuelling the rumour is the plant’s use of sodium hypochlorite in its treatment process. The Cabildo clarified that this disinfectant is internationally approved, commonly used in both wastewater and drinking water treatment, and subject to strict regulation and monitoring. Under current conditions, they confirmed, it poses no risk to public health or the environment.
The underwater outfall connected to the facility, located off Playa de Troya, has also been at the centre of misinformation. The Water Council confirmed that this infrastructure is fully licensed and safe, with no untreated discharges or hazardous materials involved.
Furthermore, inspections carried out to date by the competent authorities have found no irregularities. The Cabildo stressed that environmental monitoring and control plans are rigorously followed, and official information regarding discharges is publicly available and kept up to date.
In response to the false allegations, the Cabildo has called for responsibility from both social media users and media outlets, urging them to verify information through official channels before sharing or amplifying potentially damaging claims.
The statement also highlighted that, for the first time, Tenerife has launched an island-wide plan to structurally eliminate marine discharges. With a budget of over €270 million, the programme includes the repair of submarine outfalls, the construction of new treatment plants, and comprehensive upgrades to the island’s sanitation system.
"We are taking decisive action with real resources," the Cabildo concluded.
