E. coli contamination forces swimming bans on multiple Spanish and Croatian beaches

Health authorities in several coastal locations have temporarily prohibited swimming after tests revealed elevated levels of fecal bacteria, chiefly Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci.

In Tarifa, Spain, the municipal health department warned against bathing at Atlanterra beach, citing abnormal bacterial counts and noting that analyses of the official wastewater treatment outfall showed normal parameters. Officials suspect an illegal discharge and are working with the water concessionaire Aqualia to locate the source.

Malaga's city council similarly raised red flags at Pedregalejo, El Palo and Baños del Carmen beaches, linking the contamination to a possible sewage leak in the network serving the Peñón del Cuervo treatment plant, and ruling out construction work as a cause. Marbella later closed Los Monteros and El Kable–Rio Real beaches, also after detecting high E. coli levels, pending further testing.

In Galicia's Cíes Islands, the regional health service advised against bathing at the popular Rodas and Figueiras beaches, reporting E. coli concentrations above 800 NMP per 100 ml and enterococci above 500 NMP per 100 ml. Meanwhile, the Dubrovnik‑Neretva County in Croatia announced a temporary swimming ban at Ston beach on the Dalmatian coast after a brief spike in E. coli was identified.

All bans are precautionary, with authorities displaying red or yellow flags, posting signs, and planning additional water quality tests before lifting the restrictions.