A source from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) indicated that the red flag at the Algarve beach is likely to turn green on Sunday, as the issue of microbiological contamination has been detected and corrected.
The current advisory against swimming is expected to be lifted when the results of the latest water quality tests are available.
According to APA’s ‘infoágua’ portal, which provides updated information on beaches and bathing water quality during the swimming season, Vale de Centeanes beach is currently the only one with an alert for high levels of intestinal enterococci and/or Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium that can cause urinary infections or gastroenteritis.
The APA source explained that “a construction project not far away was improperly connected to the sewage network,” leading to the contamination.
A source from the Portimão port authority stated that the red flag was raised as a “preventive measure” and it will change to green once approved by the APA.
Bathing waters are regularly monitored by the APA, with a sampling schedule established for each swimming season.
