Cancun, Q.R. — Out of Mexico’s more than 200 beaches, only five failed the water quality test. These five beaches, located in the states of Baja California, Guerrero and Nayarit, have been labeled as unsuitable for swimming during the Easter holidays.
The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) was part of the ongoing Clean Beaches program across the country. The Clean Beaches program consists of collecting seawater from various Mexican destinations at least six times a year to guarantee water quality.
The results are then published days prior to main holiday seasons. Water testing in the 17 coastal states is done in coordination with state health authorities, the National Public Health Laboratory Network and the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris).
“This measurement is used to determine which beaches are suitable and not suitable in order to inform whether or not there is a health risk. Its instrumentation is carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO), which establishes 200 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, and is carried out following the Operational Manual for the monitoring of sea water of beaches and bodies of fresh water,” Cofepris explained about the process.
This year, samples from 290 of Mexico’s beaches were taken with special emphasis on 75 beaches known to be the country’s main tourist areas. The five beaches labeled as unsuitable for swimming include Playa Hermosa in Baja California, Playa Hornos, Playa Suave and Playa Tlacopanocha in the state of Guerrero and Playa Sayulita in Nayarit.
