UPDATE: The State Commission for Sanitary Risks of Nayarit (COESPRISNAY) informed by means of a communique that, according to the most recent results of the analysis carried out on the marine water at Sayulita Beach in the Bahía de Banderas Municipality, its waters are suitable for the recreational use of all tourism and residents of this tourist destination. The results, obtained and disclosed by the Government of Nayarit, indicate that there are between 10 and 20 NMP enterococci per 100 ml of water, "which makes it possible to inform with certainty that Sayulita Beach is free of any contamination that implies risks to health," the official bulletin says.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - With hordes of nationals heading to the country's coastal states for Semana Santa, the Mexico Health Secretariat's Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris) tested the water quality at 269 beaches to ensure they were safe for recreational use during the Easter vacation period.

Cofepris said its water quality testing took more than 1,600 samples of sea water from beaches in 17 different coastal states - including the country's most popular destinations - and all but one made the grade.

The only beach that did not pass the commission's review was Sayulita Beach in Nayarit, which is under a permanent sanitation watch by the agency. A project to upgrade the town's water treatment plant is currently under way, including the installation of an outfall that will carry treated wastewater offshore.

And though the other 268 beaches were declared safe, several of them came close to failing. In accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization, to pass the test the water must contain less than 200 fecal coliforms per 100 milliliters of water.

Among the beaches that approached dangerous levels of contamination were: Playa Suave and Playa Hornos in Acapulco, Guerrero; Puerto Angelito and Playa Principal in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca; and Playa Norte and Playa Centro on Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo. All six of them are popular Semana Santa beach vacation destinations.

Here is the full list with test results given as the most probable number of fecal coliforms per 100 milliliters.

Playa Suave, Acapulco, Guerrero, 191
Playa Hornos, Acapulco, Guerrero, 183
Playa Puerto Angelito, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, 167
Playa Principal, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, 158
Playa Antón Lizardo, Veracruz, 157
Golfo de Santa Clara Machorro, San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, 137
Golfo de Santa Clara Pueblo Palopo, San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, 124
Playa Santiago, Armería, Colima, 100
Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, 94
Playa Centro, Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, 89

The dirtiest beaches by state were:

Baja California Norte: Playa Rosarito, Rosarito, 66
Chiapas: Playa Escolleras, Tapachula, 78
Colima: Playa Santiago, Armería, 100
Guerrero: Playa Suave, Acapulco, 191
Jalisco: Playa Mismaloya, Puerto Vallarta, 51
Oaxaca: Playa Puerto Angelito, Puerto Escondido: 167
Quintana Roo: Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, 94
Sinaloa: Playa Las Glorias I, Guasave, 69
Sonora: Golfo de Santa Clara Machorro, San Luis Río Colorado, 137
Veracruz: Playa Antón Lizardo, Veracruz, 157
Yucatán: Playa El Cuyo, Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Lagartos, 74

The commission highlighted the importance of clean beaches for the national economy and local development, and recognized that some beaches have received the internationally recognized Blue Flag designation in recognition of their status as sustainable destinations.

Sources: Reforma • Publimetro • Mexico News Daily