The Environmental Prosecutor’s Office in Ibiza has opened criminal-investigation proceedings following a complaint over alleged contaminated-water discharges from Ibiza Airport into the protected natural area of Ses Salines. The complaint, submitted by eleven environmental and social organisations, names airport operator Aena, its president and chief executive Maurici Lucena Betriu, and Ibiza Airport director Marta Torres Puyoles.

The investigation will examine whether wastewater discharged from the airport’s treatment facilities could constitute an environmental offence. The opening of these proceedings does not establish that a crime has been committed, nor does it mean that the individuals named in the complaint have been found criminally responsible.

The development was reported by Noudiari on 9 November and by La Voz de Ibiza on 10 November 2026. Rafa Tur, lawyer and spokesperson for Aliança per l’Aigua, confirmed the opening of the proceedings to both local media outlets.

Eleven Organisations Submitted the Complaint

The case originates from a formal complaint submitted to the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office on 14 August 2026 by eleven environmental, social and neighbourhood organisations.

The complaint concerns alleged discharges of contaminated water associated with the wastewater treatment plant at Ibiza Airport. It identifies Aena as the company responsible for airport management and also names Maurici Lucena Betriu, president and chief executive of Aena, and Marta Torres Puyoles, director of Ibiza Airport.

Their inclusion in the complaint relates to their respective management responsibilities. It should not be interpreted as a finding of individual criminal liability or as confirmation that either has been formally charged.

The organisations argue that the alleged discharges could affect the protected natural environment of Ses Salines, as well as people using nearby coastal areas and parts of the airport where treated water is used for irrigation.

Four Water Samples Detected Contamination Between June and July

The original complaint was supported by four water-sampling campaigns carried out between 12 June and 22 July 2026.

The samples were taken from water associated with the airport’s wastewater treatment plant and the Torrent de sa Font, which flows towards Es Codolar and the protected area of Ses Salines.

According to the results presented by the organisations, the four samples showed repeated failures against the regulatory limits cited in their report. The analysis included microbiological indicators such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci, which can indicate faecal contamination.

The organisations also reported elevated levels of organic pollution and suspended solids. One of the most concerning results was recorded on 8 July, when the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) reached 427 milligrams per litre, compared with a cited limit of 25 milligrams per litre.

The results formed the basis of the organisations’ argument that the issue was not an isolated incident. However, the figures should be understood as findings from the sampling campaign submitted by the complainants, rather than as a final determination by the prosecutor or a court.

Es Codolar Was Temporarily Closed After Bacterial Contamination Was Detected

The dispute also affected the nearby coastline.

In August, Sant Josep Town Council detected elevated levels of E. coli and enterococci at the mouth of the Torrent de sa Font. The municipality temporarily closed a section of Es Codolar beach as a precaution after the results raised concerns about water quality.

The torrent flows towards the beach within the wider protected environment of the Ses Salines Natural Park, an area recognised for its ecological importance and included in protected European and international conservation frameworks.

The organisations behind the complaint warned that the alleged contamination could pose risks to people using the affected coastal area and to areas irrigated with water from the airport’s treatment system.

A Separate September Sample Detected E. coli at the Torrent de Can Cirer

The concerns continued in September, when Aliança per l’Aigua reported another visible water discharge near the airport.

On 21 September, the organisation collected a sample from water filtering through a wall alongside the airport perimeter, next to the Torrent de Can Cirer. This watercourse connects with the Torrent de sa Font and ultimately leads towards Es Codolar and Ses Salines.

According to results subsequently reported by Noudiari, the sample tested positive for E. coli at levels above the applicable permitted values. The organisation said the findings would be added to the material submitted to the authorities.

This was a separate sampling location from the four June and July campaigns. The September result therefore adds to the evidence presented by the complainants, but it should not be confused with an official finding establishing the source of every discharge observed in the area.

The Balearic Government Had Already Ordered Discharges to Stop

The matter has also been subject to a separate administrative investigation.

In August, the Balearic Government’s Directorate-General for Water Resources required Aena to stop discharging treated water into the torrent near Es Codolar, stating that the discharges were not authorised at that time.

The precautionary measure remained in force according to information given to Noudiari by the regional administration in September. The Government was continuing to examine the available information, including analyses supplied by Aena.

The administration also clarified that Aena had authorisation to reuse treated water for irrigation in the airport grounds, while discharges into the torrent were prohibited under the precautionary measures.

This distinction is important: permission to reuse treated water for an authorised purpose does not automatically permit its discharge into a natural watercourse.

Aena's Position and the Questions Still to Be Answered

Aena previously described the water leaving its treatment system as treated water intended primarily for irrigation. The company said that, during periods of high consumption or heavy rainfall, overflow from parts of the treatment system could result in some water escaping.

Aena also suggested that other installations located along the watercourse could be responsible for occasional discharges. It had stated that its own earlier analyses had not detected anomalies.

The regional administration’s precautionary order and the results submitted by the environmental organisations have therefore become important elements in determining what happened, where the water originated and whether the relevant treatment and discharge requirements were met.

The investigation will need to assess the technical evidence and establish whether there are sufficient grounds to pursue the matter as an environmental offence.

Investigation Continues

The opening of criminal-investigation proceedings marks a further step in the dispute over wastewater management at Ibiza Airport.

The Environmental Prosecutor’s Office will examine the complaint and supporting documentation, including the sampling results and information concerning the alleged discharges into the protected area.

At this stage, no final determination of criminal responsibility has been reported. The central questions remain the origin and quality of the water, whether the relevant authorisations and environmental requirements were respected, and whether any environmental damage can be established.