Paddling in poo
RED FLAGS were temporarily raised on El Portet beach in Moraira on Tuesday morning after the presence of faecal remains were detected in samples collected from the waters in the bay. The analytical control laboratory of the regional environment department detected the problem and ordered the waters to be closed to bathers until further tests had been undertaken.
“Bathing is advised against, and for this reason the red flag has been raised. We understand that this occurrence is something specific and extraordinary, and this situation will now be determined by the results of further analysis,” said the mayor, Carlos Linares.
Teulada Moraira council followed the raising of the red flags with an emergency announcement. ‘The Teulada council reports that the regional environment department has been made aware of the presence of high levels of microbiological control parameters in a sample taken on 6 August at El Portet beach. Thus, they exceed the provisions of Royal Decree 1341/2007 of 11 October on the management of water to be suitable for bathing, the origin of the alteration of said levels being un- known. For this reason, we have proceeded in a preventive manner to the closure of this bathing area until the analytical results of the samplings indicate values consistent with a quality of water suitable for bathing, a fact that will be contrasted tomorrow with the samples collected on the day of today and that will be communicated to the entire population as soon as possible.’
The waters were reopened at 14.00 on Wednesday following the assumption that the contamination came from a boat, and not a cracked sewage pipe, which had been immediately ruled out. The town hall had already said that it was ‘surprising’ that all the previous analyses had confirmed that the quality of the water was excellent and, ‘overnight’, the bacterium Escherichia Coli (E.Coli) was detected, revealing a discharge of sewage.
“It was a special and extraordinary episode,” said Linares, who explained that the municipal services and the treatment plant at Moraira had ruled out that the discharge came from the sewage system. Linares said that “everything points to organic matter that had been thrown by a vessel when emptying its bilge.”