In a statement to the Lusa news agency, the Mayor of Sesimbra announced that the beach was closed due to high levels of the bacteria enterococci and/or E. coli in the water.
The red flag was raised at 6:15 PM based on the health delegate’s recommendation.
Francisco Jesus explained that the bacteria were detected in regular tests conducted by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), with results received today.
The mayor stated a re-analysis has been conducted, with results expected on Friday.
“The usual procedures were followed, and it was communicated to the regional health delegate as normal,” he said.
He added that as soon as he was informed, municipal technicians in the sanitation area were deployed, noting that there is no municipal wastewater outflow to the beach.
Immediately, he contacted SIMARSUL – Sanitation of the Setúbal Peninsula, S.A, responsible for the management and operation of the multimunicipal wastewater sanitation system of the Setúbal peninsula, discovering that two untreated discharges into the sea occurred on August 1 and August 8 (both Fridays).
Francisco Jesus expressed indignation over this situation, particularly because these discharges were only reported to the APA by email on the following Mondays, August 4 and 11.
“This is unacceptable. In a bathing area, having two discharges on two Fridays, which we know can threaten water quality, and only reporting them three days later, on a Monday, without a phone call, is treated with incredible carelessness and irresponsibility,” said the mayor.
He emphasized that if the issue had been addressed at the time of the ocean discharges, which were carried out due to the wastewater treatment plant’s operational reasons, greater water control could have been maintained.
“We do not know if there is a cause-effect relationship, but it could be,” he said, adding that the discharges were made into the ocean and not the beach, but tides might have brought them to the area.
One of the discharges, he noted, was of 500 cubic meters.
“It’s a lot of untreated water,” said Francisco Jesus.
The mayor assured that he will demand accountability, criticizing the manner, which he described as careless, in handling such an important issue.
[Updated at 9:54 PM]
