Several media outlets in the United Kingdom have echoed the closure of El Reducto beach in Arrecife on October 14 due to alleged illegal sewage spills and have expressed their "concern," so much so that some even speak of "panic," particularly after the city council explained that "it is not the first time" this has happened.
On October 14, the Arrecife Local Police drew up a report for infraction and sent it to the Water Consortium and the company responsible for maintenance, Canal Gestión, along with a copy to the Lanzarote Health Area, where it was confirmed that the analyses that day tested positive "for microbiological contamination."
Newspapers such as the Manchester Evening News point out that "according to the council, this is not the first time that spills have been recorded in this part of the coast, which raises growing concern about the state of the wastewater infrastructure."
For its part, the Daily Express echoes the “recent report from the Government of the Canary Islands that identified several facilities in Arrecife that require urgent improvements to comply with environmental regulations and prevent wastewater from reaching the sea.”
The fifth most read newspaper in the United Kingdom also highlights the ridiculous fine of 400 euros that the Cabildo de Tenerife recently received for wastewater spills that caused the closure of Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz for almost a year.
Thus, the alleged spills are not only a public health problem but also become a problem for the image of the Canary Islands and Lanzarote in its main tourist market.
Although the same authority reopened the beach the following day after re-analyzing the state of the water with results that were “optimal for swimming,” the news did not appear in any UK media outlet.
