Benalmadena sprouts a leak … again

The Costa del Sol turned brown after a dramatic pipe explosion on May 26, 2025 in Benalmadena. Thousands of litres poured into the sky.

In the incident near the Los Patos Castillo Bil Bil hotel, a high pressure water pipe burst, sending a geyser spray of water into the Mediterranean and through the resort. Tourists were stunned to see the footage taken from a hotel terrace. The video showed a brown stain covering the calm waters with bubbles rising out of the center.

Benalmadena, around noontime, raised a warning with a yellow flag. The authorities said the discolouration was caused by “clean, drinkable” water dragging mud, sediment and other debris into the ocean. They claimed there was no health or contamination risk.

The “old, deteriorated pipe” that burst belonged to Acosol’s drinking water upstream network. Repairs were started immediately after the leak. The green flag was raised when conditions returned to normal.

In 2016, the same pipe caused major damage to Hotel Los Patos, flooding its dining room up to the 5th floor and forcing evacuation. The municipal water company warned of water cuts across Benalmadena, except in Benalmádena Pueblo, for two to three days, as reserves depleted. The hotel is known for its waterpark with a pirate galley and slides. There were no reported injuries, but several facilities had to be closed for repairs.

Locals vented their frustrations on social media. They questioned both the council’s decision not to enable beach showers while incidents like this occur, as well as the loss of water. One resident speculated that the water could contain waste, despite claims made by officials.

Benalmadena, Spain has undergone major construction in the last few months to replace the old water pipe network. It is not known if the ongoing works were a factor in the accident. It has however brought the council to the forefront once more due to the vulnerability of their utilities. Summer 2024 saw Benalmadena suffer from power outages, as the old electricity system broke down, leaving many residents without electricity.