The Granadilla Council have had no choice but to temporarily put the red flags and close Playa Chica, the central beach, and Playa Leocadio Machado in El Médano (south Tenerife) due to water contamination after finding out that the central beach exceeds the levels allowed for bathing.
The Council explained this morning (Friday) that only the central beach exceeds the levels allowed for bathing and swimming, but the municipality has decided that it is better to be cautious and extend the security perimeter from Playa Chica to Leocadio Machado.
The samples taken on Monday and Tuesday gave results of good water quality. However, the last one carried out has exceeded the permitted parameters, so new samples have been taken at the three points of the coast to carry out a counter-analysis.
This decision has been made to guarantee the safety of bathers, pending the results of the latest analysis. "As soon as they confirm that the waters are ok, we will reopen them," they added.
The mayor has requested an urgent meeting with the Tenerife Island Water Council to find out the status of the works on the Granadilla treatment plant, as this has happened just a few days after the Granadilla de Abona coastline was closed due to the presence of microalgae.
However, the closure of beaches in this municipality is not new and is directly related to the pollution of the sea because of the deficient sanitation system that locals have complained about for several years. The new plant is being worked on now with an investment of more than 31 million euros.
