Orihuela Coastal Council announced the temporary closure of La Glea and Aguamarina beaches in Campoamor early today Tuesday, 25th August, after detecting water contamination. The decision was taken following the latest analyses carried out under the Bathing Water Quality Control Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Water.
Water samples collected on 24th August 2026 revealed values more than double the maximum permissible limits, pointing to residual contamination. The City Council has not supplied further details regarding these specific analyses.
The closure is the latest in a series of pollution incidents increasingly affecting beaches along the Orihuela coastline. The recurring issues are linked to insufficient capacity in the sewage system, which pumps wastewater from the coast to treatment plants in Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja. Some wastewater is diverted to those facilities specifically to prevent spills. Pollution previously led to Cala la Mosca beach losing its Blue Flag status in 2025, although the Orihuela coastline still holds one of the highest numbers of Blue Flags across the province and the Valencian Community.
As a preventative measure to protect the health of bathers, signs prohibiting swimming were posted at both beaches. The prohibition will stay in force until further tests confirm the elimination of the contamination and the recovery of required water quality levels.
The Regional Ministry of Environment and Water carries out regular monitoring of bathing water quality to detect potential issues and implement swift preventative measures. The Coastal Council is working alongside technicians from the Directorate General for Water and other relevant agencies to identify and resolve the source of the pollution as quickly as possible. The Beaches Council, headed by Manuel Mestre, has initiated similar investigations into the origin of spills in recent summers, though without disclosing the results. The Beaches Department stated it will report developments and announce the reopening of the beaches once analytical results guarantee that water quality parameters are met.
The temporary closures come amid controversy over another spill reported further north at Cala la Mosca, which remains open to the public as seawater samples taken there detected no contamination. However, the Party for the Independence of Orihuela Costa conducted independent analyses on water flowing from the ravine into the sea, claiming nitrate and alkali levels far exceeded permitted limits. An advisor to Mayor Pepe Vegara on coastal matters called members of the party “terrorists” on social media for sharing those results, pointing instead to analyses by the General Directorate of Water from 16 August which rated the water quality as excellent.
La Glea beach, listed under the name Campoamor-La Glea, is situated in Dehesa de Campoamor in Orihuela Costa, to the left of Campoamor Marina. It stretches over 500 metres, offering easy access, leisure options, and a dune featuring protected flora. It holds Blue Flag status for 2026 alongside ICTE Tourism Quality Q, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 certifications. Aguamarina beach is an urban cove in Orihuela Costa located between Cabo Roig and Campoamor, measuring around 500 metres long and 29 metres wide, with white and golden sand, calm waters, moderate cliffs, and high occupancy during peak season.
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