In Oliva, located in the province of Valencia, four beaches have been temporarily closed for swimming. The regional authorities made this decision after hazardous levels of fecal contamination were detected in the water. The ban affects popular recreation areas: Terranova, Pau-Pi, Aigua Blanca, and Aigua Morta.
The issue was identified as part of regular water quality monitoring carried out during the summer season. Specialists collected samples on August 11 from various locations: at the Burguera entrance on Terranova beach, at Isla de Córcega street on Pau-Pi beach, at the end of Paseo del Almirante on Aigua Blanca, and in the Olivanova area on Aigua Morta. Test results showed that for one of the key microbiological indicators, contamination levels exceeded permissible values by more than twofold.
In response, the administration of the Valencian Community demanded that the Oliva municipality immediately close the designated beaches for swimming. Local and regional services are now working together to identify the source of contamination and are conducting further laboratory studies to assess the scale of the problem and implement corrective measures.
It is particularly noteworthy that all four of the closed beaches had previously been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag—an international honor for cleanliness and safety granted by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). These awards have established Oliva as one of the leading municipalities in La Safor in terms of certified beaches.
Overall, the Valencian Community ranks first in Spain for the number of Blue Flag beaches. However, the current incident highlights that even the most well-equipped recreational areas can face environmental issues that require prompt intervention.
While the beaches remain closed, authorities are urging residents and tourists to comply with restrictions and stay updated through official announcements. It is expected that once all inspections are completed and the source of pollution is eliminated, the beaches will reopen to the public.
