Swimming and bathing remains prohibited at El Reducto Beach in Arrecife, Lanzarote, after the Canary Islands Health Department confirmed high levels of contamination linked to wastewater discharges.
Water quality tests carried out by the regional health authority detected elevated pollution levels near the Punta del Camello overflow outlet, which forms part of the island's sewage network.
Arrecife Town Hall requested the analyses after Local Police discovered sewage discharges in the area over the weekend and filed an official report.
As a result, the red flag remains in place, and the council continues to advise residents and visitors not to enter the water until further notice.
Councillor for Beaches and the Environment, Davinia Déniz, has asked the Lanzarote Water Consortium to inspect pumping stations near the Cabildo building and on Portugal Street to determine the cause of the incident.
The council believes the pollution may be linked to the recent rupture of a sewage pipeline in the Argana Alta area. That pipeline carries wastewater from Playa Honda and the lower parts of Arrecife to the treatment plant at Montaña Mina, and the damage may have contributed to untreated sewage reaching the sea.
The Town Hall has also requested a full inspection of the pumping stations and the overflow system at Punta del Camello to establish exactly why the discharge occurred.
Until water quality returns to safe levels, the beach will remain under the existing safety protocol, with the red flag flying and swimming strongly discouraged.
The latest closure adds to ongoing concerns over wastewater pollution affecting parts of the Canary Islands coastline, where environmental groups and health experts have repeatedly warned that sewage discharges can pose risks not only to marine ecosystems but also to public health.
