The Granadilla de Abona council has temporarily closed El Médano beach as of Wednesday, 23 September, after recent tests revealed a concentration of enterococci exceeding the permitted limit.
The local authority has raised a red flag, prohibiting swimming until further analysis is conducted.
According to the council, the analysis showed 210 colony-forming units per 100 millilitres (cfu/100 ml), which is above the 200 cfu/100 ml threshold set by municipal guidelines. This excess of 10 cfu/100 ml has prompted the preventive closure to ensure the safety of bathers.
On the same day, new water samples were taken for a follow-up analysis. The beach is expected to reopen only if these results indicate the water meets safety standards for swimming.
In the meantime, the red flag remains up, and the council urges beachgoers to comply with instructions from lifeguards and safety personnel.
Granadilla de Abona routinely monitors water quality at various bathing areas, including the main El Médano beach, El Cabezo, La Jaquita, Leocadio Machado, La Tejita, and Los Abrigos.
The council publishes these results and notes that its tests for Escherichia coli and enterococci are conducted in accordance with Royal Decree 1341/2007 on bathing water quality management.
Currently, there is no set date for the reopening of El Médano beach; the council will lift the ban once the latest tests confirm the water is safe for swimming.
