Baja California Sur’s health regulator has certified all 39 monitored beach zones across the state as safe for recreational swimming this summer. COEPRIS (the State Commission for Protection Against Health Risks) Commissioner José Manuel Junco Navarro announced the results on July 8, confirming that every tested shoreline passed microbiological screening.
Water samples were collected from beach zones in all five BCS municipalities: La Paz, Los Cabos, Comondú, Loreto, and Mulegé. The State Public Health Laboratory analyzed the samples and found bacteriological contamination levels below international thresholds for recreational contact water.
Part of Mexico’s Clean Beaches Program
The testing falls under the federal Playas Limpias (Clean Beaches) program, coordinated nationally by COFEPRIS, the federal health risks agency. The program monitors water quality at high-traffic coastal areas before peak vacation periods. Summer is the busiest beach season in BCS, when temperatures regularly exceed 40°C (104°F) and residents and visitors flock to the coast.
Popular beaches covered by the certification include well-known spots in the Los Cabos corridor and La Paz area. Balandra Beach near La Paz, one of the state’s most visited destinations, is among the zones routinely monitored under the program.
Water Quality Concerns in BCS
The clean bill of health comes against a backdrop of ongoing water quality concerns in the region. The nonprofit Swim Guide has noted that mining activities have introduced arsenic contamination into some coastal town water supplies. Resort effluent discharged into the sea has also affected certain beaches near La Paz in recent years.
The COEPRIS certification specifically measures bacteriological indicators, the type of contamination most likely to cause illness from swimming. Bacteria such as enterococci and E. coli are the standard markers tested in recreational water programs worldwide.
Safety Reminders for Beachgoers
Health officials also urged beachgoers to follow civil protection guidelines to prevent accidents during the summer season. Authorities reminded the public to dispose of trash properly to protect marine ecosystems. Rip currents, high surf, and extreme heat are common hazards at BCS beaches during July and August.
The certification covers the current summer vacation period, which runs through mid-August for most Mexican schools. COEPRIS conducts additional rounds of testing throughout the season if conditions change.
Originally reported by BCS Noticias and Tribuna de México.