A new water discharge has been documented near Ibiza Airport, with Aliança per l’Aigua collecting samples for laboratory analysis after water was seen flowing towards the Torrent des Cirer.

The incident was recorded on Monday, September 21, 2026, near the Camí des Codols, at a wall bordering the airport perimeter.

At this stage, however, it has not been established that the water is contaminated or that it is wastewater.

Water Seen Flowing Towards the Torrent

According to Aliança per l’Aigua, residents in the area recorded photographs and video of water emerging from a wall next to the airport and moving towards the Torrent des Cirer.

The environmental organisation subsequently collected water samples and sent them for analysis by an accredited laboratory.

The aim is to determine the composition of the water and establish whether it shows any of the pollution parameters identified during an earlier investigation near the airport.

Aena Says the Water Comes From Irrigation

Aena has offered a different explanation for the new episode.

The airport operator says the water is treated water used for irrigation of the airport's green areas.

Aena is investigating how the water reached the point where it was observed, with excessive irrigation among the possible explanations being considered.

The operator has not said that the discharge was intentional.

Laboratory Results Are Still Pending

The most important unanswered question is what the water actually contains.

Aliança per l’Aigua's samples have not yet produced results, meaning there is currently no independent laboratory confirmation that the new flow contains pollutants.

The organisation wants to establish whether the water shows similar characteristics to samples taken previously from the Torrent de sa Font.

Until those results are available, the nature of the water remains unconfirmed.

A Different Torrent From the Earlier Case

The new discharge was detected at the Torrent des Cirer, rather than the Torrent de sa Font, which has been at the centre of previous complaints.

The two waterways are nevertheless connected.

Official environmental documentation for Ibiza Airport states that the Torrent des Cirer flows into the Torrent de sa Font, which then continues towards the Mediterranean.

This makes the location particularly relevant when considering the possible downstream effects of any water entering the drainage system.

Previous Airport Water Investigation Remains Open

The latest episode comes just over two months after complaints were made about water discharged from the airport's wastewater treatment system into the Torrent de sa Font.

Those earlier complaints were based on four sampling campaigns carried out between June and July.

Aliança per l’Aigua reported elevated organic and faecal contamination levels in those samples, including a maximum biochemical oxygen demand value that it said was 17 times the applicable legal limit.

Those findings relate to the earlier Torrent de sa Font investigation and should not be automatically applied to the new water observed in the Torrent des Cirer.

Government Investigation Is Still Underway

The Balearic Government has an administrative investigation open into the earlier airport discharge issue.

In September, the regional authorities confirmed that precautionary measures remained in force and that Aena was prohibited from discharging water into the Torrent de sa Font while the investigation continued.

That earlier case remains separate from the new samples taken from the Torrent des Cirer.

The results of the latest laboratory testing will determine whether the new episode should be linked to the previous investigation.

Aena Already Reuses Treated Water for Irrigation

The airport uses treated and regenerated water for irrigation of its own landscaped areas.

The Balearic Government has previously confirmed that Aena has authorisation to reuse treated water for irrigating gardens and green areas within the airport complex.

The current question is therefore not simply whether treated water is used for irrigation, but why water was observed leaving the airport perimeter and entering a watercourse.

Aena says it is investigating that point.

Environmental Sensitivity of the Area

The airport lies close to the protected natural environment around ses Salines.

The official environmental documentation identifies the Parc Natural de ses Salines d'Eivissa i Formentera and associated protected areas in the wider surroundings of the airport.

The location of the Torrent des Cirer and its connection to the Torrent de sa Font makes the handling of water in this area environmentally significant.

However, no new environmental damage has been established from the September 21 episode.

The Earlier Findings Were Significant

The earlier airport wastewater investigation generated concern because laboratory tests commissioned by environmental groups reported elevated levels of organic and faecal contamination.

Among the results reported from July, biochemical oxygen demand reached 427 mg of oxygen per litre, while suspended solids reached 643 mg per litre.

Those figures formed part of the evidence presented in the earlier complaint concerning the Torrent de sa Font.

They should not be confused with the September 21 incident, for which laboratory results are still pending.

SEPRONA and Fiscalía Are Already Involved in the Broader Case

The earlier complaints concerning airport water management were registered with SEPRONA and subsequently referred to the Environmental and Urban Planning Prosecutor's Office.

The Guardia Civil is investigating two complaints relating to airport water management, including the treatment and disposal of wastewater.

The new documentation from Aliança per l’Aigua is also being sent to SEPRONA and the Environmental Prosecutor's Office so that the new location can be incorporated into the existing proceedings.

This does not mean that the new discharge has already been found to be unlawful or contaminated.

A New Point of Concern

For Aliança per l’Aigua, the discovery of water entering a second watercourse raises questions about how treated and regenerated water is being managed within the airport complex.

The organisation argues that the episode could indicate a wider problem, but that interpretation remains a hypothesis until the source and composition of the water are established.

Aena, meanwhile, says the water is treated irrigation water and is investigating how it reached the site.

These are currently the two positions surrounding the incident.

What Happens Next?

The immediate next step is the laboratory analysis of the samples collected from the Torrent des Cirer.

Those results should help determine whether the water contains pollutants and whether it resembles the water involved in the earlier Torrent de sa Font investigation.

Authorities will then be in a better position to establish whether further measures are required.

Until then, the September 21 episode remains a documented water discharge of unconfirmed composition.

Ibiza Airport Water Management Under Continued Scrutiny

The new incident comes at a time when the airport's water management is already under investigation.

A previous case involving the Torrent de sa Font remains open, while Aena continues to use treated water for irrigation within the airport complex.

The discovery of a new flow near the Torrent des Cirer has now added another point requiring clarification.

The key unanswered questions are where the water came from, why it reached the torrent and what it contains.

For now, the most important fact is that samples have been taken and analysis is pending.