MALAGA’S E. coli woes show no sign of abating after four more beaches were placed under a temporary bathing alert following recent heavy rain.
Swimmers are being warned against taking a dip at Campo de Golf, Sacaba, Misericordia and San Andres beaches after tests by the city’s municipal water company Emasa detected high levels of the bacteria.
The recommendation was issued as a precaution following samples taken on Tuesday, after torrential rainfall triggered significant discharges of wastewater from parts of Malaga’s drainage network.
Emasa will continue to test the affected waters over the coming days, with the bathing warning remaining in place until the results drop to an acceptable level.
The latest closures come after a frustrating summer for swimmers, with repeated cases of E. coli contamination along the Costa del Sol.
READ MORE: Malaga launches water watchdog after a summer of Costa del Sol beaches plagued by bacteria closures
Malaga was forced to close six beaches in August after tests detected bacteria above permitted limits, while bathing spots in nearby Benalmadena, Mijas and Velez-Malaga have also been affected by high levels of fecal matter and resulting restrictions.
The repeated problems prompted the launch of a new water watchdog last month, involving Malaga, Benalmadena, Torremolinos, Marbella, Fuengirola and Mijas, alongside representatives of the Junta de Andalucia.
The commission will meet every two months to monitor water quality, investigate contamination and improve the response when beaches are affected.
The Junta has also acknowledged the need for improved sewage and wastewater infrastructure.
Some 75 water-treatment projects are currently planned across Malaga province.
Among them is a proposed €1.3 billion scheme aimed at upgrading the Costa del Sol’s sewage network, covering expat hotspots including Torremolinos, Mijas, Fuengirola, Marbella and Benahavis.
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