Andalusia reopens beaches after temporary closure over fecal bacteria levels
Five beaches in the province of Cádiz and six in Málaga were closed due to high E. coli counts, but they have now been reopened following water quality checks.
Elevated concentrations of fecal bacteria, primarily Escherichia coli, triggered red-flag closures on five beaches in Cádiz and six in Málaga, as mandated by the Junta de Andalucía's health delegation. Municipal authorities acted quickly, raising red flags while the regional body provided water-quality reports and recommendations. In Málaga, the municipal water firm Emasa performed daily testing and oversaw debris removal following a storm that delivered intense rainfall and strained the combined sewage network.
After four days of intensive monitoring and cleaning, the water quality met safety standards and the beaches were reopened. Officials noted that similar storm-related overloads can affect other coastal towns with combined sewage systems, highlighting the need for infrastructure upgrades. Experts suggest that separating stormwater from wastewater could reduce future closures during heavy rain events.
