The closure of up to six beaches in the capital of Málaga and four more in Benalmádena due to sewage spills into the sea following a storm during the Feria has sparked intense political debate. The opposition has criticized the governing team's management, calling it a "catastrophe for the tourist image" and demanding an investigation into the actions of the Municipal Water Company (Emasa).
The City Council, however, maintains that what happened "is a normal and usual situation" in coastal cities and is not due to "deficiencies" in the sanitation network. According to municipal sources, Málaga already separates 55% of sewage from rainwater, a higher percentage than in other major cities like Seville, Barcelona, or Madrid.
The Councilor for Environmental Sustainability, Penélope Gómez, explained that the network is designed to handle 15 liters of water per hour, but the storm exceeded this capacity, causing "reliefs" and spills into the sea to prevent flooding. She noted that in other regions, such as Catalonia, beach closures after heavy rains are common.
Following new analyses, a reduction in E. coli bacteria was confirmed, allowing two beaches to reopen, although four others maintained their red flags. Local business owners expressed frustration over lost income due to the continuous closures during peak August season.
The Regional Minister of Tourism, Manuel Gavira, has initiated an assessment of the episode's economic and image impact, emphasizing the need to determine the causes to prevent future incidents.
The municipal opposition, including the PSOE, Con Málaga, and Vox, as well as the Government's sub-delegate in Málaga, Javier Salas, criticized the "deficient municipal management" and the "image" presented to tourists, demanding explanations and improvements to the sanitation networks.
Experts like Francisco Franco, director of the Coastal Sciences Chair of the Costa del Sol at the University of Málaga (UMA), agree that the problem is common in coastal cities due to the design of combined sewer systems. He highlighted the need for millionaire investments in storm tanks and public awareness to keep streets clean.
