Let's take care of our beaches

The cleaning and maintenance of the beaches in Barcelona is, without doubt, one of the most important parts of their management. Throughout the year, the City Council, in collaboration with other agencies, carries out cleaning and maintenance tasks on the city's beaches and the Passeig Marítim, with a team of over 200 people.

Beach cleaning operations are organized according to the influx of users. For this reason, the frequency of cleaning operations and the volume of human and material resources increase during the bathing season, especially between the months of June and August. The aim is to maintain the quality of the sand and the water, the surrounding area, the equipment destined to waste collection (bins) and to the hygiene of the service facilities for users (showers and toilets).

The sand and the walkways

The cleaning of the sand is the task that requires the most resources and the longest working hours. However, before the start of the bathing season, a special operation is carried out to ensure that the area is ready for use.

Ecological sifting

Before the installation of services and equipment, during the second half of March the sand on all the beaches is mechanically sifted to a depth of 60cm, in order to air and disinfect it by means of exposure to the sun. Firstly, the surface sand is raked clean, and then deep sifting is carried out. Two days after this operation, the sand is raked again in order to level and smooth the surface.

Maintenance

The cleaning of the sand in order to ensure its quality is a task carried out all year round, by means of a manual and mechanical process which sifts the sand to a depth of 30cm to eliminate organic and inorganic surface material, as well as sand grains larger than 2cm. This operation also serves to oxygenate the top layer of sand and to contribute to the elimination of any pathogenic bacteria or fungi that might be present.

The walkways

A cleaning team mechanically sweeps the walkways and removes the water on the pavements and the porches.

Coastal waters

Every day, a 'Pelicà' sea-cleaning vessel, with the help of two Marnet boats, collects floating solid litter. This litter is collected up to 300m from the coastline in the case of the Marnet boats, and from 200m to 400m in the case of the sea-cleaning vessel.

Infrastructures

Various teams are responsible for the maintenance of the equipment and infrastructures of the beaches and the detection and repair of any faulty equipment in areas such as children's play areas, showers, offices, porches, railings, paths, benches, garden equipment, etc.

Safety

This is the responsibility of the various security, prevention and emergency services. There is also a fully-equipped ambulance on the beaches to ensure fast service to hospital centres in the event of a serious accident.