An alert has been raised for the Canary Islands following concerns from experts about significant health hazards. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has criticized Spain, particularly the Canary Islands, for failing to adequately manage urban wastewater discharges. Tenerife, among other areas, has been highlighted as a major area of worry.
Due to pollution, beaches have been closed, posing health risks to thousands of holidaymakers in 2026. The CJEU identified multiple locations in Tenerife where sewage collection systems were inadequate, including Adeje, Arona, Candelaria, and others. The court’s recent ruling for breaching the Urban Wastewater Directive points out 12 critical spots in Tenerife lacking proper sewage infrastructure.
The Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature (ATAN) has sounded the alarm over a health crisis, alleging that Tenerife has jeopardized the health of residents and tourists for an extended period. Throughout 2025, renowned beaches like Playa JardÃn were closed due to faecal contamination, with instances of E. coli surpassing safety limits.
The situation persists without visible intervention from authorities. Recent heavy rains in early 2026 have exacerbated the issue, leading to visible sewage along various sections of the Tenerife coastline. In 2019, Spain was fined €12 million, with penalties increasing every six months for ongoing breaches.
The Canary Islands face challenges such as water scarcity, infrastructure strain, and heavy reliance on imported food. These factors have led to the inclusion of the islands in the Fodor’s No List 2026, which highlights destinations facing unsustainable tourism pressures. Despite being a popular winter sun destination, the Canary Islands have faced various issues and negative publicity related to tourism.
Groups like ATAN are calling for a temporary halt to tourism expansion, increased investment in sewage treatment infrastructure, and stricter residency rules to curb population growth. Island officials argue that the 2020 court decision does not reflect current conditions, emphasizing the increased investment in sewage treatment on Tenerife. Many treatment plants and pipelines are either completed, under construction, or fully funded.