Gibraltar's Sewage Scandal: Untreated Waste Poured into Sea

For decades, raw sewage from an estimated 40,000 residents and businesses in Gibraltar has been pumped untreated into the Mediterranean Sea. The British overseas territory, situated at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, has never had a wastewater treatment plant. This practice pollutes protected wildlife areas, with reports of plastic pollution and wet wipes entangled in algae.

The Gibraltar government cites historical challenges with salinity affecting treatment processes, distinct from those elsewhere. They also suggest some beach pollution originates from nearby Spain. An EU court ruling in 2017 identified the UK as being in breach of wastewater law, but Brexit ended the European Commission's enforcement power.

Previous attempts to establish a treatment plant have failed. A 2018 contract collapsed when a subsidiary of a partner company went into liquidation. Talks with the European Investment Bank also faltered post-Brexit. However, in June 2025, a 25-year contract was awarded to Eco Waters to construct a plant at Europa Point, with advanced design and geotechnical work now underway.

Concerns persist about the existing sewer infrastructure, with the opposition citing seepages and environmental damage. The government acknowledges decades of underinvestment and is undertaking phased £15 million investments in new sewerage mains and relining projects. Despite these efforts, the discharge of untreated sewage into the sea remains a significant environmental concern.