Overview

• Protecció Civil prohibited bathing around noon on Saturday at all Badalona beaches and at Picordia in Arenys de Mar, then extended the red flag to Montgat’s les Roques and les Barques around 4 p.m.
• Affected sites now include the full Badalona coastline and three Maresme beaches, with authorities citing poor water quality as the reason for the bans.
• The agency signaled the closures by raising red flags on the affected beaches to indicate a bathing prohibition.
• Badalona mayor Xavier García Albiol said recent rains overwhelmed the city’s sewer system, alleging a lack of stormwater infrastructure led to discharges into the sea.
• Albiol noted Badalona has only one stormwater tank built in 2012 and said he has ordered plans for three additional tanks costing about €22 million each, with works slated to begin this term.