Jun 03 - Western Beach to Open for Bathing Season with Regular Water Samples Carried Out

Written by YGTV Team on 03 June 2014.

Western Beach consistently had excellent bacterial water quality prior to 2010. Since then, and especially during periods of rainfall in the winter months, there have been episodes associated with sewage discharges from a storm water drain from La Linea which significantly affected the bacterial water quality at this beach. Western Beach was however opened last summer due to bathing water quality being acceptable from an EU bathing water quality perspective during this period.

The EU Bathing Water Directive stipulates two sets of bacterial bathing water standards known as Mandatory and Guideline values, the latter being more stringent. Bathing is allowed when either of these values is met.

This year, since the 2nd May, bathing water quality has again been found to meet the mandatory values consistently and the beach will be open as from the beginning of the official bathing season. A protocol to protect public health will be implemented again.

The protocol will see samples carried out three times a week. Visual and olfactory inspections will also be carried out on a daily basis. Any pollution detected will be assessed and, if deemed necessary, the beach will be closed until such time sample results confirm that EU values are met.

The beach will also be closed if there is deterioration in the bacterial water quality and the Mandatory values are not met. As bathing water quality may be influenced strongly by rainfall, the beach will be closed during periods of heavy rain. During these periods, sampling frequency will be increased.

Water quality sampling results can be found at the Environmental Agency’s website; http://www.environmental-agency.gi/beachresult.php?beachid=6

The Government has also introduced a notice board at Western Beach where the latest results of the bathing water quality monitoring programme will be displayed. The Bathing Water Quality will be displayed by a simple indicator based on three coloured square plates; green, yellow and red.