Tenerife: Playa Jardín opens according to E.Coli lock in June 2025!

Tenerife: Playa Jardín opens according to E.Coli lock in June 2025!

Playa Jardín, Teneriffa, Spanien - tenerife, the largest and most popular holiday island in the Canary Islands, is the focus of the ongoing problem with contaminated water. Every year, several million travelers visit the island, but the unhealthy water on some beaches ensures growing concern. Locals protest against mass tourism, which exacerbates the already critical situation. The Playa Jardín, which remains closed until June 2025, is particularly affected.

In the summer of 2024, two beaches were blocked due to a health risk due to high bacterial loads. On the Jardín Playa, faecal bacteria (E. coli) were discovered during water quality controls, which can cause gastrointestinal complaints and respiratory infections. This contamination is due to wastewater directed into the sea, which is mainly caused by an overloaded sewage treatment plant in Punta Brava. A damaged sewage pipe also leaves sewage only 200 meters in front of the beach, instead of the necessary distance of one kilometer.

health risks and economic losses

The situation is alarming because the water quality on Playa Jardín has dramatically deteriorated in recent years. From a water quality that was considered "excellent", it fell on "inadequate" within eight years, which is particularly dangerous for small children, older people and people with a weakened immune system. Residents of the Punta Brava district feel stigmatized by the continuing problems and suffer from the economic consequences that arise from the closure of the beach. Business people fear millions of losses and the entrepreneurial association appreciates sales of around 60 percent.

The burden of E. coli has increased significantly in recent years. According to reports, Playa Grande, part of Playa Jardín, has shown a 13.6-fold burden by E. coli since February 2022. From 2021, the water situation was classified as "worrying" and in 2024 there were inadequate values. Despite these alarming numbers, the beach has not yet been closed, while the public prosecutor's office is determined by possible crimes and omissions in connection with the high water loads.

political responsibility and necessary measures

The local and regional politicians have so far made no specific announcements to solve the problem. Urgent construction and repair work on a defective sewage tube started, but the situation remains tense. The sewage stance technology is outdated and the problems with fresh water supply and water regeneration on the islands contribute to the complication. In the past five years, the Canaries have paid almost eight million euros in a penalty to the EU for unresolved wastewater.

The health department is reminiscent of the risks associated with bathing in contaminated water, including gastrointestinal diseases and acute respiratory infections. The holidaymakers should pay particular attention to the current water quality when planning their stay. For example, while the Playa de Las Teresitas, known for its light sand, was recently closed, it is now open again. Nevertheless, the Playa Jardín remains a problem child in the region.

lvz reports that the Playa Jardín should open again after a year of closure, provided the health standards are fulfilled. It is to be hoped that a sustainable solution will be found to improve water quality and minimize future health risks. Further information on this topic can also be found on Brisant and Tenerife News .