Ibiza Council Challenges Govern Over Port Wastewater Discharge as Two Main Pumps Are Removed for Inspection

November 06, 2026

The two main pumps at the stormwater tank in Ibiza Port have been removed for inspection following another wastewater discharge into the harbour after rainfall on 3 November 2026.

The incident has prompted a disagreement between Ibiza Town Council and the Balearic Government over the cause of the overflow. While the regional administration points to the lack of separation between rainwater and wastewater networks, the municipality argues that the rainfall recorded that day should not have overwhelmed the port's pumping infrastructure.

The inspection is intended to establish whether an obstruction or another technical problem has reduced the pumps' ability to operate at full capacity.

Wastewater discharge reported near the Formentera ferry terminal

The latest incident occurred on Tuesday, 3 November, following rainfall across Ibiza and Formentera.

Wastewater was discharged into the port in the area near the maritime station and the boarding zone used by ferries connecting Ibiza with Formentera, close to the Burger King.

Images recorded by a local resident showed water emerging from the drainage infrastructure and reaching the harbour.

The Balearic Government's Department of the Sea and the Water Cycle explained that a large volume of rainwater had entered the sewerage network. Because rainwater and wastewater are carried through the same network in parts of Ibiza, the additional flow placed pressure on the infrastructure.

According to the department, the port's stormwater tank was temporarily unable to evacuate all the water it received, resulting in the discharge.

The joint venture responsible for operating the installation, formed by FACSA, Islasfalto and Transportes Bufí, reportedly informed the department that pumping operations were able to clear the accumulated flow once the volume of incoming water decreased.

Ibiza Town Council disputes the Government's explanation

The Town Council has strongly challenged the regional administration's explanation, arguing that the rainfall on 3 November was not sufficiently intense to justify the failure of the stormwater tank.

Municipal sources said the pumping system should have been capable of evacuating the incoming water under the conditions recorded that day.

The municipality also stressed that the port's stormwater tank is an infrastructure dependent on the Balearic Government's Department of the Sea and the Water Cycle.

Town Council representatives argued that the lack of separation between rainwater and wastewater networks becomes particularly problematic during exceptionally heavy rainfall, such as a DANA, but should not necessarily cause an overflow during more moderate rainfall.

The municipality therefore believes that the performance of the port's pumping infrastructure also needs to be examined rather than attributing the incident solely to the configuration of the city's sewerage network.

Two main pumps removed from the four-pump installation

On Thursday, 5 November, technicians were working at the stormwater tank, where the two main pumps had been removed for inspection.

The Conselleria del Mar y del Ciclo del Agua explained that the installation contains four pumps: two used during normal operation and two additional units kept as reserves.

According to the department, monitoring records indicate that the pumps were operating during the recent rainfall episodes. However, this does not necessarily mean that they were functioning at their full capacity.

The inspection is intended to identify whether partial obstructions or other elements may have restricted their performance and contributed to the overflow.

The results of this technical review will be important in determining whether the incident was caused by a problem with the pumping equipment, the volume of water entering the system or a combination of factors.

Aqualia contract brings separation works in es Pratet

The municipality has also pointed to infrastructure works already under way in es Pratet, one of the areas where the existing drainage network has been identified as problematic.

According to Town Council sources, the award of the new municipal water-service contract to Aqualia has allowed work to begin on separating rainwater drainage from wastewater infrastructure.

At the time of the report, technicians were working in streets including Diputado José Ribas and Carlos V.

The municipality described the works as a significant step after approximately 20 years of extensions to the previous water-service contract.

Separating the two networks is intended to prevent rainwater from entering the wastewater system in the same way, reducing pressure on sewerage infrastructure during periods of rainfall.

However, the work in es Pratet does not mean that the entire city's network has already been separated, and further infrastructure improvements will be required.

A recurring problem for Ibiza Port

Wastewater discharges following rainfall have affected Ibiza Port on previous occasions.

A similar incident was reported in September 2025, when heavy rainfall overwhelmed the pumping infrastructure and wastewater reached the harbour. Other complaints about discharges and unpleasant smells were also reported during 2026.

The latest incident has renewed questions about the capacity and reliability of the island's drainage and wastewater infrastructure, particularly in areas where rainwater and sewage continue to share networks.

The Balearic Government has requested a written report from the company operating the stormwater tank, while the removal of the two main pumps is intended to help identify any technical limitations.

Until the inspection results are available, the precise cause of the 3 November discharge remains unresolved.

For residents, port workers and passengers travelling between Ibiza and Formentera, preventing further wastewater overflows into the harbour remains an important public infrastructure and environmental concern.

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