The El Carmen beach in Barbate has remained closed to swimmers since last Thursday, with a red flag prohibiting bathing. The closure followed a wastewater incident that, according to information provided by the City Council, was caused by Thursday's rainfall.
The mayor of Barbate, Miguel Molina, had expressed hope earlier on Friday that water analysis results would arrive during the day to allow the beach to reopen. He stated that the visual perception of the sand and water was "magnificent," but they were awaiting confirmation of the parameters to ensure user safety.
However, by late Friday afternoon, there was no indication that these results had been received, keeping the beach closed.
Meanwhile, various voices called for more detailed explanations from the mayor regarding the appearance of wastewater from river outlets, arguing that the rainfall had not been intense enough to cause such an incident. Both the PSOE and Izquierda Unida demanded more information and questioned the version provided by the governing team.
The group Enebro-Ecologistas en Acción from La Janda has also expressed doubts, believing the mayor has not clarified the source of the contamination. They question whether the 18.81 liters of rain on Thursday are sufficient cause, as they consider rainwater to be non-polluting and non-hazardous on its own. They request an explanation for the mixing of rainwater and sewage discharge.
Enebro speculates about potential wastewater treatment plant discharges, suggesting that due to the summer tourist influx, the plant might lack sufficient capacity. They question if there was a discharge from the sewage treatment plant that could have overflowed. They ask to know the type of contamination, the polluting factor, and whether it affects only the sand or also the bathing water.
Furthermore, they request an investigative file to be opened against Aqualia, as the entity responsible for the complete water cycle management, to determine responsibilities.
