Puerto de la Cruz Faces Political Clash Over Stalled Wastewater Project
Puerto de la Cruz’s PSOE has accused Mayor Leopoldo Afonso of misrepresenting the status of a stalled wastewater treatment project, citing official documents that confirm all necessary permits were already secured.
Political tension is rising in the Orotava Valley over the stalled construction of a new wastewater treatment plant (EDAR) and a submarine outfall. The local PSOE group in Puerto de la Cruz has challenged the official explanation provided by Mayor Leopoldo Afonso (PP), claiming his account lacks supporting evidence and raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability.
The conflict centers on who is responsible for the project's delay. While the mayor blames the State’s Directorate General for Coasts, citing bureaucratic hurdles, the PSOE has presented records from the Tenerife Island Water Council (CIATF) that suggest otherwise. Documents from late 2024 indicate that the required permits for both the outfall and the treatment plant were already approved.
Furthermore, the PSOE points out a key jurisdictional detail: the management of the local coastline is handled by the Canary Islands government, not the central state. A site handover report from December 19, 2024, confirms that all necessary coastal and municipal authorizations were already in place. Additionally, a regional government resolution from December 12, 2024, removed the final legal barriers that had previously prevented work from beginning.
This gap between the mayor’s claims and the official paperwork has sparked frustration, especially given the ongoing environmental issues at Playa Jardín and Punta Brava. Socialist spokesperson Marco González has questioned the government’s competence, calling for more rigor in managing projects that are already administratively ready to proceed. The situation highlights an urgent need for better coordination between local and regional authorities to ensure that vital infrastructure projects are not stalled by political misinformation.