Playa del Reducto in Arrecife has been closed. This is due to excessively high bacteria levels. These are thought to originate from sewage, which is discharged into the sea near the beach. The closure is based on a water sample taken on 22 September.
In the Canary Islands, a red flag with a black dot indicates that swimming is prohibited for a reason other than rough seas. The reason for the latest closure is the presence of intestinal enterococci, with 210 colonies per 100 millilitres of water. The limit is 185. This bacterium is one of two typical faecal bacteria found in the water. The limit values were set by the European Bathing Water Directive. The bacterium was detected at the monitoring point directly at Playa Reducto.
The Escherichia coli reading, at 110 colonies, remained below the limit of 500. Both strains of bacteria are found in human and animal faeces. The Canary Islands regularly experience problems with high levels of sewage contamination due to these two bacterial strains.
Wastewater sample on Lanzarote leads to beach closure
The Canary Islands‘ Water Register records, for each sample, the date of collection, the two bacterial readings and the authority’s final assessment. Beach closures in the Canary Islands almost always occur with a slight delay. The samples must first be analysed and the results then forwarded to the relevant local councils. Any subsequent beach closures are the responsibility of the local authorities.
Our records show 217 samples taken from the affected bathing area since 23 January 2023. This is the 21st closure since monitoring began. The beach therefore has the highest number of official bathing bans of any beach in the Canary Islands.
Lanzarote’s problem beach lies between three sewage discharge points
The Canary Islands‘ sewage discharge register lists three discharge points off the coast of Arrecife within one kilometre. The nearest one, at 284 metres, is close to the sampling point. Residual domestic sewage is discharged there. Although a link between the discharges and the sample taken on 22 September has not been proven, it is considered highly likely.
The duration of a beach closure in the Canary Islands depends on the follow-up samples. These are usually taken daily following a closure. One example of this problem is Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz, which remained closed to bathers for just under a year due to high levels of water pollution.
You can now find current figures, including trends and flow data, as well as all nearby sewage discharge points for all beaches in the Canary Islands, updated hourly in our regularly updated Water Quality Overview. Click here for water quality information at Playa del Reducto.
«Closed again: Canary Islands beach has worst sewage problems»
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