According to the commander of this captaincy, Mário Figueiredo, the decision was made after receiving a communication from the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) informing that the Quarteira Pumping Station had discharged wastewater into the Marina of Vilamoura, in the municipality of Loulé.
“We are facing a potential contamination of the water [for bathing], hence we have raised the red flags,” Mário Figueiredo told Lusa news agency, referring to the beaches east and west of the Marina of Vilamoura’s bar.
According to the maritime authority, the APA “advised against bathing on the adjacent beaches.”
The commander is now waiting for the water analysis that APA is conducting before re-authorizing bathing for the several thousand people who are on vacation in the region.
“I want to believe that APA will be quick in confirming this situation,” he added.
On the other hand, the maritime authority stated that the ban “has nothing to do with” and is a “distinct case” from the decision taken on Tuesday to prohibit bathing at Fuseta-Ria beach, in the municipality of Olhão, and in Armação de Pera, in the municipality of Silves, also in the Algarve, due to microbiological contamination in the water.
