The municipality of Marinha Grande, located in the district of Leiria, announced on its Facebook page that the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) confirmed the quality of the bathing waters at Vieira Beach, as tests indicated values within public health parameters.
“Thus, the swimming ban has been lifted, allowing beachgoers to safely enjoy the area again,” the statement declared.
On Wednesday, Vieira Beach was closed to swimmers due to a malfunction at the Monte Real pumping station (Leiria), which necessitated discharges into the Lis River.
Águas do Centro Litoral (AdCL) reported that the Monte Real station, located in Várzeas and responsible for elevating effluent to the Coimbrão wastewater treatment plant, had become temporarily “inoperative due to a failure in the pumps that comprise the elevation system.”
Due to the inoperability, “the emergency discharge system of the station, as well as the upstream Serra de Porto do Urso pump station, was activated,” the statement explained.
“These discharges occur respectively in the Lis River and an adjacent irrigation ditch,” it added, assuring that the situation was reported to APA and the Lis Valley Irrigation Association.
The Marinha Grande City Council clarified that it was monitoring the situation “in coordination with various relevant entities and the Ministry of Environment.”
As a precaution, the Capitania do Porto da Nazaré temporarily banned swimming at Vieira Beach.
All activities in the Lis River were also prohibited.
Águas do Centro Litoral has a 30-year concession, until 2045, for operating and managing the Central Coastal Portugal Multi-Municipal Water Supply and Sanitation System.
This company was established in 2015 and is partly owned by Águas de Portugal, SGPS, SA, along with 29 municipalities across the districts of Aveiro, Coimbra, Leiria, Porto, and Santarém.
