Water Quality at Playa Jardín Declared Excellent by Mayor
Leopoldo Afonso, the mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, has confirmed that the bathing water quality at Playa Jardín is “excellent.” This statement comes after a “discrepant” test result from a public health sampling on 22 June, which has been followed by other positive outcomes indicating no ongoing contamination.
At a press conference, Afonso explained that Playa Jardín has been open since 17 June after undergoing recovery processes, including health checks and improvements to the sewage system to prevent spills. The mayor noted that the beach was previously closed due to sewage discharges from July 2024 until June of last year.
The mayor’s comments respond to the PSOE party, which raised concerns about a microbiological contamination incident reported between 22 and 24 June, claiming the beach should have been closed during this period. They have also called for an extraordinary council meeting in August to address coastal issues.
According to the local council, the anomalous test on 22 June at sample point PM5 near El Charcón was contradicted by subsequent samples that returned positive results. An independent laboratory also confirmed the water’s quality.
“The follow-up samples rule out any ongoing or widespread contamination at Playa Jardín,” the council stated. Afonso reiterated that the initial concerning result should be viewed critically and not used to cause unnecessary alarm.
He added that the council did not receive any official notification from the Public Health Directorate recommending the beach’s closure, noting that local health authorities sent results to confirm water safety during the San Juan celebrations.
Afonso presented documentation confirming there were no official communications suggesting Playa Jardín should close on the disputed dates, stating that the response from the council was based on scientific results, not speculation. He assured that Playa Jardín is under constant monitoring to ensure the safety of both residents and tourists.
