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Beaches in Badalona, Montgat and Sant Adrià closed to swimming because of water pollution
The beaches of Badalona, Montgat and Sant Adrià de Besòs remain under a red flag this Friday and swimming is prohibited. The measure was adopted after Thursday's storms, which temporarily affected water quality and require extra caution.
The restriction affects a total of 13 beaches on the metropolitan coastline: nine in Badalona, two in Montgat and two in Sant Adrià. Civil Protection and the municipalities involved have asked residents and visitors to respect the signs and choose other parts of the coast while the incident lasts.
The problem is not related to a specific spill, but to the heavy rain that has fallen in recent hours. The rainfall forced the activation of several overflows in the sanitation system, a mechanism that prevents the sewer network from collapsing but can cause water containing pollutants to reach the sea and temporarily affect microbiological quality.
The authorities expect the situation to be temporary. In Badalona, the City Council estimates that the red flag could remain in place for at least 24 hours, pending new tests confirming that the water again meets the conditions required to allow safe bathing.
While the red flag remains in force, it is forbidden to enter the water, even if the sea appears calm. Civil Protection points out that these signs respond to health criteria and not only to wave conditions, and therefore recommends following the instructions of lifeguard services and checking beach conditions before travelling.
Restrictions of this kind are relatively common after episodes of heavy rainfall on the Barcelona coast. When the sewer system receives large quantities of water in a short time, safety protocols require bathing to be suspended until checks confirm that water quality has returned to levels suitable for users.