Drivers traveling this Sunday along the GC-1 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have been able to observe a notable brown stain on the sea, near the Water Treatment Plant. The discoloration, clearly visible from the highway, initially raised suspicions of a spill.
However, the origin of the phenomenon lies on land. A rupture in a water pipe in the Tívoli area is causing clay and other sediments from the ground to be dragged towards the coastline. The water from the breakdown is dislodging soil material and transporting it to the coast, where it ends up dispersing in the sea water.
This suspension of clay is what explains the intense brown hue that contrasts with the usual blue of the sea. The stain covers a considerable area off the coast near the Water Treatment Plant, attracting the attention of those passing through the area.
According to available information, the discoloration is not due to a hydrocarbon spill, but rather to the earthy material that the water from the breakdown has transported to the sea.
