On Thursday afternoon, Praia da Vieira was closed to swimming after tests showed contamination, according to the Public Health Department of the Local Health Unit of the Leiria Region.
Following further analyses, the regional health delegate of the Centro determined today afternoon to lift the swimming ban at this beach, with immediate effect.
This was the second time this month that Praia da Vieira was closed to swimming.
The first closure happened after a malfunction recorded on the 12th at the Monte Real pumping station in the municipality of Leiria, which led to the discharge of thousands of cubic meters of untreated effluents into the Lis River, which flows into Praia da Vieira, and into irrigation ditches.
The APA estimated that between 20,000 and 25,000 cubic meters of raw sewage were discharged into the Lis River, according to its president, Pimenta Machado, who described the incident as “serious, with grave implications” for the Lis River and Praia da Vieira.
The issue at the station, an infrastructure managed by Águas do Centro Litoral (AdCL), was resolved in the early hours of the 14th, and the swimming ban at Praia da Vieira was lifted two days later.
At that time, the Municipality of Leiria advised against activities on the section of the Lis River downstream from Monte Real, such as irrigation, swimming, and fishing.
On Thursday, Alexandre Tavares, chairman of the board of AdCL, resigned.
In an email sent to several entities, Alexandre Tavares stated that the company “has no evidence that the new closure of Praia da Vieira,” in the municipality of Marinha Grande, on Thursday afternoon, “is related to any malfunction or limitations in the pumping and sanitation transportation system or in treatment at the Coimbrão wastewater treatment plant,” in the municipality of Leiria.
However, there is a fact related to the “manoeuvre in the automaton” at the Passagem pumping station in Vieira de Leiria, Marinha Grande municipality, on Monday, reported to the APA “as per best practices, which cannot be excluded from contributing, even minimally, to the biological contamination levels found.”
Alexandre Tavares assured that AdCL is “investigating any causality that may link these facts, conducting a new monitoring campaign.”
“In an effort to preserve the good name of Águas do Centro Litoral, SA, as a company that provides an essential service and mission, the chairman of the board tenders his resignation,” wrote Alexandre Tavares, who made himself available “for determining the facts, no matter how minimal, that caused this closure.”
Águas do Centro Litoral holds a 30-year concession until 2045 for the operation and management of the Central Coastal Portugal Multi-Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation System.
This company, established in 2015, is part-owned by Águas de Portugal, SGPS, SA, and 29 municipalities covering the districts of Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Porto, and Santarém, serving a geographic area of 5,485 square kilometers.
