Beach incidents in Tenerife

Diario de Avisos reports images and accounts from Álvaro Rodríguez and Asier Linares showing overflowing drains and a pipe releasing water into the sea at Palm-Mar, Arona. They report odours, wipes and a possible mixture with wastewater after rain. There is no official confirmation of the water’s composition or contamination of a particular beach. November 1 is the publication date; the exact filming date is not established. Unconfirmed report.

MEDIADiario de Avisos (opens in a new tab)

Puerto de la Cruz council announced on 9 October that the Playa Grande Centro bathing area at Playa Jardín has reopened after the Directorate-General for Public Health confirmed favourable results. This lifts the bathing prohibition of 7 October.

Bathing was again prohibited at Playa Jardín on 7 October following a microbiological incident, according to Diario de Avisos. Official confirmation of the exact area affected is still pending.

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Puerto de la Cruz council reopened the Playa Grande (Punta Brava) area of Playa Jardín on 1 October after the Canary Islands Directorate-General for Public Health confirmed the water is again suitable for bathing. This lifted the bathing prohibition decreed on 30 September.

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Bathing prohibited after public health tests detected excessive E. coli levels.

MEDIAEl Día (opens in a new tab)

Granadilla de Abona council reopened El Médano beach on 25 September after the counter-analysis confirmed the water is again suitable for bathing, with enterococci below the permitted limits at both monitoring points. This lifted the bathing prohibition decreed on 23 September, when a check detected 210 cfu/100 ml of enterococci against a limit of 200.

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Los Realejos Town Council announced that Playa de El Socorro has reopened to bathing after new analyses confirmed the water quality, which the council described as "excellent". The beach had been closed on 23 September after routine checks detected a short-duration contamination episode with E. coli levels above the reference values.

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Bathing temporarily prohibited due to faecal contamination. Los Realejos council decreed a precautionary bathing ban on 23 September, after that morning's water-quality checks opened a short-duration contamination period. The prohibition remains in force, as a precaution, until Friday 25 September. No microbiological values have been published.

MEDIADiario de Avisos (opens in a new tab)

Granadilla de Abona council decreed the temporary closure of El Médano beach on 23 September after water-quality analyses detected intestinal enterococci above the permitted maximum: 210 cfu/100 ml against a limit value of 200. A red flag was raised and bathing was prohibited. The council took new samples the same day for a counter-analysis and has said the beach will reopen once results confirm the water is suitable for bathing. No specific cause has been attributed to the exceedance.

A Tenerife pediatrician reported seeing an increase in infections among children during the summer, including gastroenteritis, otitis, conjunctivitis and dermatitis, and raised concerns about possible exposure to contaminated seawater. The observations were reported by the pediatrician and do not establish a direct causal link between the illnesses and bathing water.

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Bathing reopened after the latest analyses confirmed that the water was again suitable for bathing following the short-term contamination episode.

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Temporary bathing prohibition after sanitary monitoring found 410 CFU/100 ml of intestinal enterococci in the sample taken on 9 September.

MEDIARTVC (opens in a new tab)

Bathing reopened after follow-up analyses confirmed suitable water quality.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

Temporary bathing prohibition affecting Playa Grande / María Jiménez and El Charcón following unfavourable microbiological analyses.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

Bathing reopened after follow-up analyses confirmed suitable bathing-water quality.

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Large brown patches were reported off the coast of Jover, Tejina and Bajamar. The municipality attributed the phenomenon to an accumulation of Trichodesmium cyanobacteria. The event was stated to be unrelated to the separate microbiological closure at Bajamar.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

Temporary bathing prohibition following an unfavourable microbiological analysis.

MEDIARTVC (opens in a new tab)

A brownish patch was reported along the coastline near Playa del Médano. The origin was not officially confirmed, and the affected bathing areas remained open while public-health authorities carried out additional water-quality analyses.

MEDIAEl Día (opens in a new tab)

A visible microalgae patch was reported in the bathing area of Los Charcos de Valleseco and along the nearby Anaga coastline. The event was associated with a natural microalgae bloom rather than a confirmed sewage discharge.

MEDIAEl Día (opens in a new tab)

Bathing restriction lifted after Public Health communicated that the water was suitable for bathing following a new sample.

MEDIADiario de Avisos (opens in a new tab)

Preventive temporary bathing closure in the Punta Brava section after Public Health reported an unfavourable official analysis.

A video recorded offshore between Radazul and Playa de la Nea showed a continuous turbid discharge from a submarine outfall. The report did not establish a bathing prohibition or confirm that bathing-water quality was affected.

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Bathing reopened after counter-analysis confirmed that water quality was again within permitted limits.

Temporary bathing closure after municipal analyses detected E. coli above the permitted level. A red flag was raised while counter-analysis was carried out.

Brown patches were reported along the Candelaria coastline near Las Caletillas. The origin was not officially confirmed, and the bathing area remained open while additional water samples were taken.

MEDIAAtlántico Hoy (opens in a new tab)

A report published by elDiario.es / Canarias Ahora states that a sample taken on 22 June 2026 at El Charcón detected microbiological contamination by E. coli. According to the published report, Public Health had recommended that the Town Council temporarily prohibit bathing, although the beach remained open during the San Juan celebrations.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

Bathing reopened after follow-up analyses confirmed that microbiological levels had returned to acceptable limits.

MEDIACanarian Weekly (opens in a new tab)

Temporary bathing prohibition after routine water-quality monitoring detected elevated enterococci levels.

MEDIACanarian Weekly (opens in a new tab)

A discharge of pretreated water occurred from the Pelada pumping station toward Playa de La Batata, on the Montaña Pelada trail. According to the Granadilla de Abona Town Council, the overflow was caused by rainfall activating the overflow system. The infrastructure is not municipally owned; the council reported the incident to Aquaes and the Cabildo de Tenerife.

MEDIAAtlántico Hoy (opens in a new tab)

Beach reopened after counter-analysis confirmed that the water was suitable for bathing.

Temporary bathing closure after routine analyses detected intestinal enterococci above the permitted maximum.

Bathing reopened later the same day after authorities resolved the incident. The initially suspected hydrocarbon spill was ruled out and was linked instead to an incident involving an inert-gas production system on a vessel.

Bathing was preventively prohibited across the Valleseco coastline after an incident initially reported as a possible marine discharge of unknown origin.

Bathing was preventively prohibited across the Valleseco coastline after an incident initially reported as a possible marine discharge of unknown origin.

Bathing reopened later the same day after authorities resolved the incident. The initially suspected hydrocarbon spill was ruled out and was linked instead to an incident involving an inert-gas production system on a vessel.

Bathing was preventively prohibited across the Valleseco coastline after an incident initially reported as a possible marine discharge of unknown origin.

Bathing reopened later the same day after authorities resolved the incident. The initially suspected hydrocarbon spill was ruled out and was linked instead to an incident involving an inert-gas production system on a vessel.

A feature on wastewater infrastructure, sewage discharges into the sea, coastal pollution and tourism in Tenerife, referring to the Stop Vertidos al Mar platform, the Punta Brava outfall, the closure and reopening of Playa Jardín, and official figures on discharge points in the Canary Islands. MiCharco records it as island-wide context, not as a new closure or contamination incident.

Garachico Town Council reopened the El Caletón natural pools to bathing after confirming that water quality was optimal again, following the follow-up analysis carried out after the previous day's prohibition.

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The bathing area returned to operation with a yellow flag. The municipality reported a small surface oil patch likely related to sea conditions, while no bathing prohibition was issued by the health authority following routine sampling.

Garachico Town Council closed the El Caletón natural pools to bathing after routine samples taken on the Monday showed levels of the faecal bacterium E. coli above the permitted limit. The council reported that a second sample had been collected for analysis and that, following checks on the municipal sanitation system, no discharge of foul wastewater had been recorded.

MEDIARTVC (opens in a new tab)

Bathing was temporarily prohibited after dead fish, oil and floating marine debris were observed in the bathing area. Samples were taken to assess water quality and the material present.

MEDIARTVC (opens in a new tab)

A visible white patch was reported in the water at Las Teresitas and attracted the attention of bathers. The event was reported by local media.

MEDIAEl Día (opens in a new tab)

Playa Jardin officially reopened after almost a year closed, following improvements to wastewater and sanitation infrastructure and confirmation from Public Health that the bathing water met suitable conditions.

The beach reopened after cleaning and disinfection work was completed and water analysis confirmed conditions suitable for bathing.

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Playa de San Marcos was temporarily closed after an unexpected shutdown and collapse at the local wastewater treatment plant caused a discharge in the promenade area. The plant subsequently returned to operation and cleaning and disinfection work was carried out.

MEDIADiario de Avisos (opens in a new tab)

Bathing reopened after new analyses confirmed that water quality was again suitable for bathing following the temporary closure caused by elevated faecal-bacteria levels.

MEDIAelDiario.es / EFE (opens in a new tab)

Bathing reopened following satisfactory follow-up analyses.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

Beach closed to bathing again following adverse microbiological results.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

Temporary bathing prohibition following adverse microbiological results.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

Bathing reopened after follow-up analysis confirmed suitable water quality.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

Bathing reopened after counter-analysis confirmed that the water was again suitable for bathing.

MEDIADiario de Avisos (opens in a new tab)

Temporary bathing prohibition following adverse bathing-water analyses.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

Temporary bathing closure after analyses detected E. coli above the permitted maximum.

A large brown patch was reported offshore affecting the Playa de Las Américas and Troya coastline. A marine scientist described it as a major discharge, while the Cabildo stated that the visible water came from saline groundwater released during drilling works and denied that it was wastewater. Bathing was not prohibited.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

A large brown patch, reported as a likely accumulation of algae, was observed approaching the coastline near Playa San Juan and Los Gigantes. No bathing prohibition or confirmed wastewater contamination was reported.

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Residents reported a large patch of brown foam and dozens of small dead fish along the Puerto de la Cruz coastline, around the Punta Brava treatment plant and towards Martiánez. The municipality sent local police and technical staff and, in its assessment, attributed the foam to rough sea conditions and the dead fish to catch discarded by a fisherman, without adopting a new preventive bathing measure. The episode occurred while Playa Jardín was already affected by the separate 2024-2025 long-duration closure, and MiCharco records it as an observational report, not as a new confirmed fecal contamination incident.

MEDIAEl Día (opens in a new tab)

The affected section reopened after follow-up analyses returned normal bathing-water values.

A section of Las Teresitas was temporarily closed to bathing after routine monitoring detected a short-duration water-contamination episode.

Bathing reopened after counter-analysis confirmed that the water was again within the permitted bathing-water limits.

Bathing was temporarily prohibited at the central beach of El Médano after analyses detected intestinal enterococci slightly above the permitted maximum.

Bathing was reopened after follow-up analysis confirmed that the water quality was again suitable for bathing.

MEDIAEl Día (opens in a new tab)

El Bloque and Los Charcos reopened on 18 September after follow-up analyses returned favourable values and normal parameters.

Bathing was temporarily prohibited after microbiological monitoring detected altered bathing-water quality parameters. Follow-up analysis was requested before reopening.

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Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council prohibited bathing at El Bloque and Los Charcos in Valleseco after routine monitoring detected indicators of water contamination at both bathing areas.

Bathing reopened after new analyses confirmed suitable bathing-water quality.

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Temporary bathing prohibition after microbiological bathing-water parameters were found outside acceptable limits.

MEDIADiario de Avisos (opens in a new tab)

Bathing reopened after follow-up analyses confirmed that the water was again suitable for bathing.

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Bathing was temporarily prohibited at Playa La Pinta after routine monitoring detected intestinal enterococci above acceptable levels.

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The affected section of Las Teresitas reopened after follow-up analyses returned normal bathing-water parameters.

Puerto de la Cruz established a bathing restriction across the entire Playa Jardín complex after Public Health confirmed that the water was unsuitable for bathing due to wastewater contamination. The measure became a long-duration closure.

Bathing was temporarily prohibited in the central section of Las Teresitas around access 8 after routine monitoring detected abnormal contamination parameters. The episode was classified as short-duration contamination.

A cyanobacteria bloom was observed along the southeast coast of Tenerife, with visible concentrations in the waters off Puertito de Güímar. Similar observations elsewhere were not mapped to additional beaches.

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Bathing resumed at La Tejita on Monday 8 April 2024. Reporting on the event states that Granadilla de Abona town hall kept bathing closed from the Sunday until the Monday, when the beach was open again; the suspected fuel source was never confirmed.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

Bathing was temporarily prohibited at La Tejita after a visible slick initially suspected to be fuel or kerosene was detected offshore. Emergency services investigated the event. The suspected source could not subsequently be confirmed.

MEDIAelDiario.es / Canarias Ahora (opens in a new tab)

The report set out the Canary Islands Government's concern about wastewater discharges into the sea, referring to recent beach closures in Tenerife including Punta Brava and El Médano, visible discharges at Los Abrigos, and outfall census figures under which only part of the detected discharge points were authorised. MiCharco records it as island-wide context, without assigning it to a specific bathing area.

MEDIADiario de Avisos (opens in a new tab)

Both beaches reopened after counter-analysis confirmed enterococci below the legal limits and water suitable for bathing.

Puerto de la Cruz reopened the Playa Grande section of Playa Jardín after the Directorate-General for Public Health confirmed that the new sample showed water suitable for bathing.

Granadilla de Abona temporarily prohibited bathing at central El Médano and Leocadio Machado after analyses detected intestinal enterococci above the maximum permitted level at both bathing areas.

The Playa Grande section within the Playa Jardín complex—not the whole complex—temporarily closed after a routine water sample showed altered biological parameters.

Central El Médano, Playa Chica and Leocadio Machado reopened after counter-analysis confirmed E. coli and intestinal enterococci were below the permitted limits.

A large brown patch was observed along the Valleseco coastline, particularly around El Bloque and Acapulco. According to reporting, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife municipal emergency coordination centre (CECOPAL) raised a red flag and advised against bathing on 12 August 2023 after microalgae and hydrocarbon residues were detected in the area. Reporting two days later still described the red flag at both bathing areas. No official reopening date has been located, so MiCharco keeps this episode as historical and not as a restriction currently in force.

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Granadilla de Abona temporarily prohibited bathing at central El Médano after analyses exceeded permitted microbiological levels. Only the central beach had the confirmed adverse result; as a precaution, the restriction was extended from Playa Chica through Leocadio Machado.

Granadilla de Abona lifted the prohibition after analyses confirmed good bathing-water quality and E. coli levels well below the permitted limits. A precautionary recommendation remained to avoid bathing where floating microalgae were visibly present.

Granadilla de Abona temporarily prohibited bathing as a precaution along the municipal coastline after a large patch of discoloured water was observed moving from the Arico coast. While its origin and water analyses were assessed, initial indications pointed to a natural microalgae event rather than a wastewater discharge.