The City Council of Aguaviva has temporarily banned bathing in the Bergantes River due to microbiological contamination of the water. The Department of Health took a sample last Monday that tested positive for the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria and, therefore, has advised against bathing in the river.
The mayor of Aguaviva, Aitor Clemente, considers that the heavy rains and the flooding of the river recorded last weekend «could have caused» the water to carry this microbiological load. The rainfall was concentrated mainly in the headwaters, in the Cantavieja area, which is formed by ravines and tributaries that flow into the Bergantes.
Due to the forecast of rain, the 112 warned the town that they had to evacuate all bathing areas because early at night the floods would occur. «They told us that although it was not going to be of great importance, it could be dangerous if it caught people in the river,» says the mayor of the town.
Clemente also sends a message to both residents and visitors to the area: «I want to ask people to follow the recommendations of the Department of Health to avoid any possible problems in the fruit of this issue.» The accesses to the river have been filled with posters alerting potential bathers of this situation.
Next Monday, the Department of Health will take samples of the water again and announce the result of the test to find out if the restriction can be lifted.
