JAVEA’S busiest beach- the Arenal- has been closed to bathers since Tuesday due to a suspected sewage discharge.
Swimming was prohibited after test samples revealed fecal matter in the water.
One person told the Olive Press that she heard from friends about children getting upset stomachs after going swimming before bathing was prohibited on Tuesday afternoon.
Cruz Roja lifeguards hoisted red flags and made regular loudspeaker announcements about the situation.
It’s hoped that bathing can resume on Thursday once the all-clear through tests has been given.
The General Directorate of Water(DGA) carried out routine tests on Monday and discovered some fecal contamination.
Ecologists in Action, Marina Alta, claimed in June that a broken pipe carrying water from a sewage treatment plant is pouring out into the beach cove, rather than out to sea.
That has been denied by Javea council and the Ministry of Agriculture and Ecological Transition who say regular water testing has shown the quality as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’.
There’s anger though from Javea mayor, Jose Chulvi, and Beaches councillor, Toni Miragall, over the time it is taking to get the results of new sampling conducted on Wednesday.
Jose Chulvi said: “This is an intolerable delay which is insensitive to the demands of a tourist area in the middle of the holiday season affecting the busiest beach in Javea.”
The Compromis political party in turn slammed the socialist mayor.
In a statement they blamed Chulvi for turning a ‘blind eye’ towards issues at Arenal beach and for not making any decisions ‘until obliged by external circumstances’.
READ MORE: