The closure of the Illa de l’Esgoletja recreational area in Sumacàrcer, after two deaths occurred in this stretch of the Xúquer river within five days, has not deterred swimmers. Visitors, finding the usual access point blocked, are heading upstream in search of other entry points.
The town council is maintaining the closure of the municipal site "sine die" to prevent further accidents, although Mayor David Pons acknowledges the impossibility of monitoring the more than six kilometers of riverbed within the municipality. "Honestly, we don't know what decision to make," he comments, not ruling out any option, from reopening in a few days to keeping it closed for the entire summer. Pons is calling for assistance to control visitor numbers and overcrowding.
The Confederación Hidrográfica del Xúquer (CHJ) reminds that swimming is a permitted use in the public hydraulic domain but recommends informing oneself about associated risks and exercising extreme caution. The agency points out that Autonomous Communities and local councils can restrict or prohibit swimming for safety or health reasons.
The mayor of Sumacàrcer counters that local councils lack the capacity to enforce a swimming ban given the extensive river stretches and the influx of visitors. "We cannot prohibit people from swimming," he states, requesting support from the CHJ.
The environmental platform Xúquer Viu considers the safety debate necessary but advocates against a general ban on swimming or criminalizing users. "The river is not a swimming pool," they note, emphasizing individual responsibility. The group highlights that small municipalities like Sumacàrcer or Antella cannot bear the entire responsibility, as these are areas of traditional and spontaneous use, and calls for broader support from the Generalitat, the CHJ, or the Diputación.
