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Top tourist beach on the Costa Blanca closed due to high levels of faecal bacteria in the water
Javea Town Hall in the Marina Alta region of Alicante province has ordered the closure Arenal beach following a damning water analysis report
Holidaymakers and locals alike have been warned to stay out of the sea at Javea's hugely popular Playa del Arenal beach after high levels of faecal bacteria were detected in the water.
A damning analysis report carried out by the General Directorate of Water forced Javea Town Hall to shut down the stretch of coastline to bathers on Tuesday June 27, and Red Cross staff were seen raising the red flag while local police ordered swimmers to get out of the water.
Beachgoers were also warned of the health dangers over a public announcement system.
The Department of Beaches has commissioned additional analysis to those carried out by the General Directorate of Water, and has promised to "make the results public as soon as they are received."
Arenal beach was closed for two days last July following sewage spillage. On this occasion, the contamination was caused by a broken marine outfall that had reportedly ruptured three months earlier.
Ecologists in Action Marina Alta (EAMA) had been warning for weeks that the situation was "unhealthy and unhygienic", and panned the authorities for "playing Russian roulette" with the health of locals and holidaymakers alike.
This week's closure was announced by Javea Council on its social media network, with Facebook users venting their anger and frustration.
One wrote: "Finally they don't look the other way. I have an ear infection thanks to the crystal clear water!"
Another urged the council to keep the beach closed "until this problem is solved", adding: "The tourists don't care, let them go to other beaches, it can't go on like this."
"About time too, if not a little late for some," vented a third, with another claiming "the smell was nauseating" on Tuesday morning.
Javea Town Hall has stated it will update the public when the findings of further analysis are confirmed.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Javea
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