The Canary Islands government has identified a serious issue involving sewage discharges from Telde, Gran Canaria, which have been polluting the sea for nearly a decade. A municipal pipe, known as emissary 222, has been expelling untreated industrial and urban wastewater from the El Goro and Salinetas industrial zones, leading to environmental concerns near marine cages and swimming areas.
The pipe has been operational since 2007 but was only licensed to discharge treated urban waste from the Ojos de Garza treatment plant. In 2017, the government discovered that industrial waste from the El Goro and Salinetas zones, processed at the Silva facility—recently found to have “numerous irregularities”—was also being released.
Documentation reveals alarming figures; a measurement from 2019 indicated that the Silva plant was handling pollution loads equivalent to 46,252 residents, far exceeding its designed capacity of 4,583. A subsequent analysis in 2023 reported a load of 11,437 equivalent residents. The Silva facility was intended to process a lower volume of waste, primarily from food production, carpentry, and other light industries, but it is now overwhelmed.
The treatment plant reportedly achieves only a 15% reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and shows a significant increase in Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and suspended solids, with some parameters exceeding emission limits by alarming margins.
Experts warn that prolonged discharges of highly contaminated water can severely degrade coastal ecosystems, causing issues like oxygen depletion and the proliferation of pathogens. Jaime Sadhwani, a professor at the University of Las Palmas, stated that the impact is akin to creating a “black spot” in the environment.
Despite the urgency of the situation, the Telde Council has not provided answers to inquiries regarding the pollutant levels or the industries responsible for the excess waste. The mayor, Juan Antonio Peña, has cited a confidentiality order concerning the investigation into the sewage discharges. Additionally, the Canary Islands government has expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation, leading to a formal review process aimed at revoking the discharge approval for emissary 222.
This situation gained further attention following a marine contamination crisis in late 2024, when 2,500 tonnes of farmed fish died allegedly due to toxic discharges from the same emissary. The prosecution’s investigation into this environmental disaster has raised more questions regarding the oversight and management of wastewater in Telde.
The emissary was initially intended to channel treated waste but has since without regulatory sanction come to accept significant volumes of industrial effluent. Past attempts to regularise the discharges have repeatedly failed, underscoring longstanding issues in environmental management in the area.
Juan Romeu, president of the Association of Environmental Consultants, believes this reflects years of poor practices, calling it a “disaster” for both the marine environment and local communities. The situation remains precarious, and agencies are working to establish clarity and take necessary actions moving forward.
