The Health Department of the Junta de Andalucía has advised against swimming at Atlanterra beach in Tarifa after detecting abnormal levels of escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci. The Town Hall is investigating whether the source is an illegal discharge.
Atlanterra beach, located within the municipality of Tarifa, has joined the list of Andalusian beaches facing water quality issues. The Health Department of the Junta de Andalucía has advised against swimming in this coastal area after detecting abnormal levels of faecal bacteria, specifically escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci.
The Town Hall of Tarifa, governed by José Antonio Santos Perea, has informed the public through a statement on its social media about the situation. Local authorities are working to identify the source of the contamination, which is not attributed to the authorised discharge from the Wastewater Treatment Plant (EDAR).
According to municipal sources, analyses conducted by Aqualia, the company responsible for water services, as well as by the Town Hall's technical services, show that the parameters at the controlled discharge point are normal. This has led to the conclusion that the treatment plant is not the cause.
The mayor and the municipal delegate for Beaches, Nacho Trujillo, have indicated that investigations point to a possible illegal discharge as the cause of the anomalies. Both officials do not rule out that some unauthorised discharge may be behind the contamination and are considering taking legal action against the offenders.
The temporary recommendation to avoid swimming at Atlanterra has been adopted at the request of the Health Management Area of the Campo de Gibraltar, as a preventive measure to protect the health of users. The Town Hall has already begun to signal the area with signs and a yellow flag, and is working on the necessary corrective measures to restore the usual water quality.
This incident adds to others that have occurred in recent weeks at Andalusian beaches. First, there were issues at Matalascañas and Punta Umbría in Huelva, followed by El Palo and Pedregalejo in Málaga, which reopened for swimming after favourable new analyses. Now, Tarifa faces a similar situation in the peak season.
The Tarifa Town Hall insists that the priority is the safety of bathers and that all necessary measures are being taken to locate the source of the contamination. Meanwhile, visitors are advised to avoid swimming at Atlanterra beach until further notice.
The investigation remains open, and it is expected that the exact causes can be determined in the coming days, along with the necessary solutions. The Town Hall has announced that it will keep the public informed through its official channels.
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