Alert over sanitary deficiencies at the Benicalap municipal swimming pool

A technical report points to irregularities in the management and water quality of the facility

Generic image of an outdoor municipal swimming pool in a Mediterranean urban setting.
IA

Generic image of an outdoor municipal swimming pool in a Mediterranean urban setting.

The municipal swimming pool in Benicalap park, in Valencia, is at the center of a controversy after a technical report detected serious breaches in the management and health safety of the water.

According to the technical documentation, inspections carried out during June concluded that the facility was using water from an irrigation well without an adequate disinfection system. In addition, analyses carried out by the municipal laboratory detected the presence of enterococci, an indicator of fecal contamination.
The report also details other irregularities, such as the opening of the pool without the mandatory prior notification or the required analytical reports. Technicians observed that the automatic disinfectant and pH dosing equipment were in an alarm state during the inspection visits.
On the other hand, the document records episodes of coercion towards the inspectors, which required the presence of the Local Police. As a result, a precautionary closure of the pool basins was requested, along with the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against the managing company.
For its part, the municipal government has assured that the water currently presents no health risks and is suitable for bathing. They explained that the well used is chlorinated and validated, adding that this same water source has been used in previous years to fill the pool.