The company Canal Gestión has been denounced by the Civil Guard before the Agency for the Protection of the Urban and Natural Environment (Apmun) for a spill of sewage in the Charco de San Ginés. This complaint is added to another one presented last August also by the Seprona before the same body, for another spill in Punta de los Vientos.
In the case of the spill in El Charco, it took place on Tuesday of last week, after the failure of the pumping station on León y Castillo street managed by the company. According to the Civil Guard to La Voz, Canal could have committed an administrative infraction of the Coasts Law for a "discharge of sewage in the public maritime-terrestrial domain".
That rule specifically prohibits in its article 56.3 the dumping of "solid waste and debris into the sea and its shore, as well as the protection easement zone, except when these are usable as fillings and are duly authorized." The Apmun, which is the administration that is responsible for sanctioning these events, must now process the complaint of the civil guard.
The fines or sanctions established by the Coasts Law are mostly economic and their amount varies depending on the infraction committed. These sanctions can amount to up to 300,000 euros for very serious infractions.
Prior to the proceedings of the Civil Guard, the Local Police of Arrecife was the first police force to investigate the events that occurred in El Charco. As confirmed by the Civil Guard itself, the municipal agents were the first to arrive and carry out "the report and the ocular inspection". The Civil Guard then moved to the place and after "verifying the situation and comparing" with the reports of the municipal police, transferred the complaint to the Apmun.
"Uncontrolled" spill in Punta de Los Vientos
In addition, on August 19, the Seprona denounced Canal Gestión for an "uncontrolled" spill in Punta de los Vientos. The substance spilled was calcium bicarbonate, which the company uses to clean pipes. According to the Civil Guard, that day they confirmed that it had ended up in the sea.
In this case, according to the Civil Guard, the spill would constitute an infraction of article 38 of the Canary Islands Waste Law, so they transferred the facts to the Apmun.