Residents of Parque Holandés, in the municipality of La Oliva, have voiced concerns about a pool that has become permanent in the ravine running through the urban area. This water accumulation, situated just meters from inhabited houses and adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant, appears dark and murky, with floating debris and a pungent odor that intensifies with heat.
The visibility of the issue has recently increased following a fire on August 4th. This blaze cleared the dense vegetation that previously concealed the ravine, exposing the pool's extent and even affecting the treatment plant's facilities and a nearby power line tower. What was once known only to the closest residents is now an undeniable problem for the entire community.
Locals suspect the water may be of fecal origin, given its appearance and smell, and the proximity of the treatment plant. However, there is no public information clarifying whether it is an overflow, an overload discharge, an unauthorized dumping, or if the water has undergone any treatment. Accessible public analyses detailing its actual composition are also lacking.
“"The affected residents' demands are specific: clarification of the origin and composition of the accumulated water; whether a discharge permit exists and under what conditions; what analytical controls are performed and with what frequency; whether the treatment plant operates within its parameters or suffers chronic overflow due to overload; and who assumes responsibility, be it the La Oliva City Council as the service provider, the company operating the facility, or the Insular Water Council of Fuerteventura as the competent hydraulic administration."
The sanitation and treatment network of Parque Holandés has been identified in the municipal planning of La Oliva as an area requiring specific improvements for years. Residents question the lack of an effective solution despite this known diagnosis.
Residents' demands include immediate cleaning, sealing the discharge point, a transparent action plan, and the publication of water analyses. Current regulations require prior authorization and periodic monitoring for any discharge into the public hydraulic domain, with potential sanctions for non-compliance.
