Santa Cruz de Tenerife Ends Wastewater Discharge into Ocean

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is set to reach a major environmental milestone. The City Council has announced that, as of August 1st, the city will officially stop discharging wastewater into the ocean. This change, achieved in partnership with the water company Emmasa, marks the end of a decades-old reliance on submarine outfall systems and is a key step in the city’s "Zero Discharge" strategy.

The project represents an investment of over 14 million euros. Key improvements include the launch of the Taganana Wastewater Treatment Plant and the modernization of pumping stations in San Andrés and the Añaza-Acorán-Alisios corridor. These upgrades allow wastewater to be redirected to the Buenos Aires treatment plant for full processing. While this is a significant achievement, the final expansion of the Buenos Aires plant still awaits approval from the Ministry for the Ecological Transition.

This shift is about more than just infrastructure; it is a necessary move toward modern sustainability. By improving water quality, the city hopes to restore its coastline—a vital asset for tourism and recreation—and regain the Blue Flag status it lost in 2003. These efforts also support the city’s bid for the Canary Islands Tourism Award in the Sustainable Tourist Destination category.

Furthermore, the project helps address the archipelago’s ongoing water crisis by allowing treated water to be reused for irrigation. By moving away from outdated engineering practices, Santa Cruz is modernizing its urban planning to better balance its role as a busy port and administrative hub with the protection of its natural environment.