Gibraltar has come under renewed environmental scrutiny following reports that the British overseas territory has discharged untreated sewage directly into the Mediterranean Sea for decades because it has never operated a wastewater treatment plant.
An investigation published by The Guardian on 6 May said wastewater from Gibraltar’s population of almost 40,000 residents and businesses is discharged at Europa Point on the southern tip of the peninsula.
The report said the discharges have raised concerns about marine pollution, ecosystem impacts and public health risks in an area intended to be environmentally protected.
Lewis Stagnetto of the Gibraltar-based environmental charity the Nautilus Project said he had observed sewage-related debris, including wet wipes and plastic waste, accumulating among shoreline algae and across rocky coastal areas.
According to the Gibraltar government, the territory’s sewerage system presents unusual technical challenges because it uses seawater rather than freshwater. The government said the resulting salinity has “historically created challenges” not encountered in many conventional wastewater treatment systems.
The issue previously drew legal attention from the European Union. In 2017, the European Court of Justice ruled that the UK had breached EU wastewater legislation by failing to provide treatment for Gibraltar’s sewage. However, Brexit subsequently removed the European Commission’s enforcement powers in relation to Gibraltar.
Attempts to develop treatment infrastructure have reportedly stalled several times. A project awarded in 2018 to a consortium involving Northumbrian Water and Modern Water collapsed after a subsidiary entered liquidation. A spokesperson for the Gibraltar government said this had “a significant impact on the delivery of this vital project”.
The government also said preliminary discussions with the European Investment Bank “fell through as a direct result of the UK leaving the European Union”.
In June 2025, Gibraltar awarded a 25-year contract to Eco Waters to build a wastewater treatment plant at Europa Point. The report said design and geotechnical work is under way and a planning application was submitted in March 2026.
Northumbrian Water sought to distance itself from responsibility for wastewater management during its involvement in Gibraltar’s water sector. The company said it “was never responsible in any way for wastewater operations in Gibraltar”.
The investigation also highlighted concerns about the condition of Gibraltar’s sewer network, with opposition politicians previously referring to tourist areas being affected by sewage odours and leakage. The Gibraltar government said it is investing £15 million in phased sewer infrastructure upgrades and sewer-relining projects.
Despite the controversy, the government maintained that monitoring shows Gibraltar’s bathing waters continue to achieve “excellent bathing water quality”.
