Cross port loses its two blue flags because the quality of the water in Playa Jardín and San Telmo beach it does not reach the levels required by the Association for Environmental and Consumer Education (Adeac), which is the entity that awards these recognitions to the best bathing areas in the world. The Mayor of Playas, Alberto Cabo (ACP)acknowledges that “it is not good news for the municipality”, but defends that the water in both areas “is good and perfectly suitable for bathing”, although it does not reach the levels of excellence required by a blue flag.
Cabo stresses that the City Council of Puerto de la Cruz works, together with other administrations, “in the improvement of the quality of sea water”, and adds that “in recent years actions have been carried out to eliminate discharges”.
ANDThe councilor responsible for Playas recalls that “there are already new actions programmed, and others that are being planned, with the aim not only of recovering excellence in water quality and, with it, the distinctions on the beaches, but, above all, to advance in the solution to the structural sanitation problems that have affected the city for decades, as well as the rest of the Archipelago».
Mayor Alberto Cabo acknowledges that the measures to prevent spills have been insufficient
“According to the analyzes carried out in 2021, the quality of the bathing waters on the coasts of the municipality, although good, has not been excellent, and this is an essential criterion to receive the blue flag,” warns Cabo. In his opinion, “the municipal administration has worked hard so that Cross port received those blue flags, actions that have already allowed us to recover the two flags that the organization temporarily withdrew from us in 2019 and maintain them for the following two years. However, this time it has not been enough, since the criterion of excellence in water quality is imperative. It’s not good newsobviously, but it must be taken as an incentive to continue working to recover them next year ».
Improvements in the sanitation network
Among the actions carried out by Puerto de la Cruz to improve the sanitation system and reduce discharges, those carried out by the Sustainable City and Planning area in the surroundings of the old municipal swimming pool stand out, with the elimination of several irregular connections of sewage to the rainwater network, and in San Telmo, where the changing room pumping system was repaired. In addition, the Community Welfare area and the concessionaire company Aqualia repaired several pipes in Playa Jardín. The Administrative Concessions area is also working on the drafting of the new sanitation service concession contract that entails an investment in the improvement of the facilities that reaches 9.5 million euros, which includes actions in the area of Playa Jardín. Likewise, the City Council has already planned various actions to improve the sanitation network together with the state, regional and island administrations in the town, Punta Brava, Nueva Street, the surroundings of El Botánico and other points in the municipality.
