ARCHIVED - Unhealthy and unhygienic: environmental group slams condition of Javea beach

Ecologists in Action Marina Alta (EAMA) claims "stagnant discharge" at Arenal beach in Javea poses a serious health risk

A week after Orihuela was forced to close three beaches due to sewage spillages, another stretch of coastline in Alicante province has been thrust into the spotlight by environmentalists concerned about discharges into the water.

According to Ecologists in Action Marina Alta (EAMA), conditions at Arenal beach in Javea are "unhealthy and unhygienic" and "damaged outfall discharges remain stagnant".

The claims are in contrast to regional government analysis of the water quality carried out last month, the findings of which have been made public at the beach Red Cross lifeguard post.

However, EAMA, has argued that the water analyses carried out is insufficient and fails to paint a thorough picture of conditions at Playa del Arenal.

"Only one sample has been taken from the centre of the beach. There is no public data from the northern part of the beach, nor the exact point where discharges are taking place. The levels of the analysis are Enterococcus 150 and Escherichia coli 240.

"Compared to analysis on May 16, the levels of E.Coli and Enterecoccus in the second report are much higher than the samples from the centre of the beach in the first analysis. EAMA analysis of samples from the exact point of dumping gave results of E.Coli 20,000 times higher than permitted".

"The current situation is unhealthy and unhygienic, both from the point of view of democratic and public health. Russian roulette is being played with the health of citizens," said EAMA.

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The environmental group is now urging any Arenal beach users to inform the local medical centre or the health authorities if they feel unwell after bathing in the sea.

"The situation will become more and more serious, as during the summer there will be more and more people. As a consequence, the sewage treatment plant will be overloaded and the sea will become hotter, dangerous conditions that will create a real soup of bacteria", warned EAMA.

According to the action group, the problem lies in the fact that the water treatment plant in question "does not have a third stage of treatment and for this reason the water is being discharged through the outfall".

To "rectify" the situation, EAMA is making three demands.

Firstly, that the regional government invests in improving the sewage and wastewater treatment infrastructure in Javea.

Secondly, that samples are taken at the exact point where the outfall is broken, "since at other points the wastewater is already very diluted".

And finally,  EAMA is calling for the damaged outfall to be repaired "as a matter of urgency", and, in the meantime, "bathing should be restricted in the northern part of the Arenal beach and bathers should be informed of the situation".

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Image: Ecologistes en Acció de la Marina Alta (EAMA)