Overview
- The city initially closed six beaches after municipal samples detected Escherichia coli above regulatory 'optimum' levels and on Tuesday reopened Campo de Golf-San Julián and El Palo while Guadalmar, La Misericordia, Sacaba and San Andrés remain closed under red flags.
- Local officials say a storm on the night of August 15 produced sewage 'alivios' or overflows from a largely unitary sewer network that carries rainwater and sewage in the same pipes, sending discharges to the sea.
- EMASA reported new tests showed a general drop in E. coli that allowed selective reopenings but warned concentrations at the four closed beaches remain above the thresholds in Real Decreto 1341/07 and that crews will keep repeating analyses and cleaning the shoreline.
- The municipal water company says blocked pipes—largely from non-biodegradable wipes and other solids—make overflows more likely, noting it removed 2,345 tonnes of solids in 2025 and spent about €1.9 million on cleaning and unblocking that year.
- The closures have provoked opposition criticism over public health and tourism damage and the city says it is expanding works to separate storm and sewage lines with a target of roughly 70% separative coverage in the future.