Bathing had been banned at Matosinhos Beach for bathing for five days last week due to "microbiological contamination". The ban was lifted on Wednesday, was reinstated on Thursday and was lifted again on Friday after new tests were carried out, allowing bathers to go back into the water.
According to the Leixões Maritime Police, the issue of "microbiological contamination" has been "resolved", at least for now.
Since the start of the bathing season, swimming has been advised against four times at Matosinhos Beach, according to information from the National Water Resources Information System (SNIRH).
In 2023, the water at Matosinhos beach was classified as acceptable, after being classified as good in 2022.
The ban on swimming at that beach has caused discontent among surf schools that use the beach as their main place of business. According to Manuel Castro, manager of Surf Aventura, one of the more than 10 surf schools in Matosinhos, each day that passes without swimming and activities in the sea at Matosinhos beach represents "hundreds of euros in losses".
WHAT is causing these microbiotical occurances? Is it weather, dumping of waste or chemicals? Is there a solution? France spent millions to clean up the Seine for the olympics and by the end of the 2nd weekend the water had Ecoli and swimming events had to be moved to manmade projects.
By Brad from Porto on 12 Aug 2024, 21:45