Investigation into Puerto de la Cruz Sewage Crisis Targets Former Mayor and Water Officials
Criminal investigations are underway against former Puerto de la Cruz mayor Marco González and senior water officials to determine accountability for the sewage discharges that forced the closure of Playa Jardín.
The environmental crisis that forced the closure of Playa Jardín on July 3, 2024, continues to unfold in the courts. Criminal proceedings are currently underway to determine who is responsible for the sewage discharges off the coast of Puerto de la Cruz, with investigators now focusing on the political and technical officials who managed the area during the period in question.
While the case against former councilors David Hernández and Alberto Cabo of the Asamblea Ciudadana Portuense (ACP) has been dismissed, the investigation remains active for others. This includes the former socialist mayor, Marco González, as well as two senior officials from the Tenerife Island Water Council (CIAT): manager Javier Davara and the Island Councilor for the Natural Environment, Blanca Pérez.
In comments to local media, González defended his time as mayor, arguing that his actions were restricted to municipal duties and the search for solutions to sanitation infrastructure that he claims had been outdated for decades. He pointed to the administrative complexity of the new water and sanitation contract, which began in 2020. González maintains that the contract—which faced political backlash for its proposed 40-year duration—was the necessary route to secure the structural investments the municipality desperately needs.
Beyond defending his own record, the former mayor suggested that other parties involved in water management lacked diligence, citing delays in wastewater separation and a lack of transparency. These accusations come at a time of total operational paralysis, as the submarine outfall remains broken and the planned wastewater treatment plant has yet to be built.
The situation underscores the political tension surrounding water management in the Canary Islands, where legal battles over pollution are now deeply tied to debates over long-term public service contracts. The court must now decide whether the decisions or inaction of these officials directly contributed to the environmental damage that led to the closure of one of Puerto de la Cruz’s most popular tourist beaches.