Gran Playa de Santa Pola reopens after three days of closure due to pollution

The Gran Playa de Santa Pola beach was reopened late Wednesday afternoon, September 10th. As you may recall, on Monday, they came across signs prohibiting swimming and a lengthy plastic […]

September 12, 2025 Updated on September 11, 2025 2 Mins Read

The Gran Playa de Santa Pola beach was reopened late Wednesday afternoon, September 10th. As you may recall, on Monday, they came across signs prohibiting swimming and a lengthy plastic police tape warning that no one could dive. A municipal spokeswoman indicated that the incident stemmed from a diesel spill from a boat or a leak caused by a fault.

The pollution necessitated drastic measures on Monday, a holiday in Santa Pola commemorating the end of patron saint celebrations in honour of the Virgin of Loreto. Furthermore, despite the fact that the 8th was back-to-school day, a big proportion of Gran Playa users were elderly and visitors who were caught off guard by the aforementioned ban. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the restriction signs were strengthened with red flags to alert users. There was little to do but wait for the yellowish-green stain floating on the surface to vanish.

Gran Playa is one of the quietest and safest beaches on the Costa Blanca coast since you have to wade pretty far into the sea to be protected. This makes it a popular destination for many families, primarily from the nearby residential areas, who come here every day for a dip that, thanks to climate change, is now practically lasting until November.

Sanctions

On Wednesday afternoon, the Santa Pola City Council finished this unpleasant occurrence, which has had a significant impact on the municipality’s tourism image but is impossible to predict or sanction the unknown offenders. This isn’t the only shutdown in Santa Pola this summer. At the beginning of August, a spill was discovered, this time from land, forcing the closure of two canals between Gran Playa and Playa Lisa, where swimming was also prohibited for a few days. At least this polluting leak occurred on two days, Monday and Tuesday, when heavy rain was predicted, prompting numerous local councils to close educational facilities ranging from nursery schools to colleges. On days without sun, the number of bathers reduces dramatically, despite the fact that the water temperature remains about 30 degrees, the highest in recent years, according to Aemet, the State Meteorological Agency, which confirmed this week.