EU questions water quality at two local beaches

Two of Gibraltar’s most popular beaches will be placed under scrutiny after an EU report described the quality of their bathing water as “poor”.

One of the beaches, Western Beach, has well-documented problems stemming from a sewage outlet in Spain.

But the second beach, the newly regenerated Sandy Bay, is seen as one of the most attractive bathing sites in Gibraltar.

The Gibraltar Government has questioned the EU’s findings, which it says are out of date. Officials here insist that contemporary data shows water quality at Sandy Bay is good.

The EU publishes the report annually to help bathers make informed decisions about the beaches they use.

But the 2015 document, published last week, shows that Sandy Bay and Western Beach have the worst grading of water quality in a four-level ranking, while Catalan Bay is just one grade higher at “sufficient”.

In contrast, most other beaches in the surrounding area ranging from Zahara to Marbella have “excellent” water quality, according to the report.

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Photo by DM Parody