Blue flags flying on our beaches are a guarantee of cleanliness, service and safety.
The flags are presented by the European Union after strict tests and investigation.
This year the Valencian Community has won 100 blue flags and with 48 flags Alicante beats Tarragona, Mallorca and La Coruña as the most highly awarded province in Spain.
The list of winners was announced last week and there is good news and bad news for our beaches and ports.
In Dénia, for example, there are four flags but while Las Marinas has won back the flag it lost last year, the Raset beach has lost its flag.
Bellreguard beach in La Safor has won a flag for the first time and Cala Fustera and Villas Higuericas have recovered theirs.
But Valencia’s very popular El Saler beach has lost its flag, along with those of La Cala de la Albufereta in Alicante and La Zenia in Orihuela Costa.
But who decides which beaches and ports win the coveted flags? What do they look for? The CB Friday decided to investigate further:

Winning a flag
Coastal towns and port authorities carefully prepare their beaches in the hope of displaying the sought-after blue flag status every year.
This is a European Union award of environmental quality given to those beaches and ports that meet strict criteria.
Beaches or yacht harbours that display the blue flag award guarantee water and beach cleanliness, good safety measures, a high quality of services and top environment management.
Yet not all beaches display the blue flag, as a strict series of requirements must be passed in order to meet the necessary standards.
The ranking system of beach quality, marinas and ports has been operating since 1987 and includes the participation of 24 European countries. 
The blue flag is a creation of the European foundation of environment education.
The aims of the foundation are to develop research and actions that promote citizen conscience and environment education, the cross-border dimension of environment problems and the need for international co-operation in the search for solutions. 
Its blue flag awards are one of the main objectives.
Strict regulations for obtaining the blue flag classification for quality include a high water quality level for bathers - that means the absence of any toxic waste from industries, boats, human activities or from other sources.
Winning authorities must be able to carry out an emergency action plan for contamination incidents, there must be a sufficient number of bins and toilets on the beaches and signs banning dogs.
As well as all this, a team of lifeguards and rescue teams must be employed in case of an accident. 
Furthermore, camping or unauthorised vehicles will not be allowed on the beach. The recreational facilities must be easy and safe to use while not posing any threat for bathers or interfering with environment protection.
Special access paths must be built for wheelchairs and public drinking water and telephones must be available.
Participation in the blue flag campaign is totally voluntary, as much for member states of the European Community as for autonomous communities or regions, as it is for district areas and ports. 
Inspections are carried out regularly and if beaches and ports do not meet the criteria, then they must take down their flag.
The awards are given every year by the foundation. Preliminary national selection is carried out at first and candidates that pass this initial stage present themselves before an international jury of environment and tourism groups, the European Union and other associations.

Blue flag beaches and ports in the Valencia Community

VALENCIA PROVINCE
Sueca (Mareny de Vilxes)
Cullera (El Dosser, El Far, Los Olivos, El Racó, Sant Antoni)
Xeraco (Xeraco)
Gandia ( Nord, RCN Gandia)
Bellreguard (Bellreguard)
Miramar (Miramar)
Oliva (Pau Pi, l’Aigua Blanca)

ALICANTE PROVINCE
Dénia (Les Bovetes, Les Marines, Marineta Cassiana, Les Rotes, CN Dénia)
Xàbia (La Grava, L’Arenal, La Granadella)
Teulada (El Portet, L’Ampolla, Les Plagetes, CN Moraira)
Benissa (Cala Fustera, CN Les Bassetes)
Calpe (La Fossa, El Cantal Roig, L’Arenal Bol, CN Calpe)
Altea (La Roda, CN Altea, Marina Dep. Greenwich)
L’Alfàs del Pi (El Racó de l’Albir)
Benidorm (Llevant, El Mal Pas, Ponent)
Finestrat (La Cala)
La Vila Joiosa (Ciutat, El Paradís)
El Campello (El Carrer de la Mar, Mutxavista, CN El Campello)
Alicante (Sant Joan, El Postiguet, El Saladar, Marina Dep. Alacant, RC de Regatas)
Elx (L’Altet, La Marina, Pesqueres/Rebollo)
Santa Pola (El Varador, Llevant, Tamarit)
Guardamar del Segura (Els Vivers, Centre, La Roqueta)
Torrevieja (Torrelamata Sur, Los Locos, El Cura, Los Náufragos, RCN Torrevieja)
Orihuela (Flamenca, Cala Capitán, Cabo Roig, Campoamor, Barranco Rubio)
Pilar de la Horadada (Jesuitas Cala Rincón, El Puerto, Las Villas/
Higuericas)