A temporary bathing ban has been issued for two areas of the city seaside area of Crotone, due to contamination from sewage discharges. The provision, ordered by mayor Vincenzo Voce on 13 June, concerns the stretches of coast in front of the old Coni swimming pool and the cemetery.
The analyzes carried out by Arpacal on water samples taken on 12 June revealed the presence of “Escherichia coli” and “intestinal enterococci”, typical bacteria indicators of faecal pollution. The contamination would be due to a malfunction of the sewage lifting pumps.
The bathing ban is temporary and will remain in force until further orders from the authority, pending new analytical data that confirm or deny the presence of pollution.
The episode raised controversy due to the delay in taking the samples and issuing the ban. The municipal councilor of Consenso, Enrico Pedace, had in fact reported the sewer spill into the sea already last 8 June, but the first samplings were carried out only four days later.
In the meantime, citizens have been invited to respect the bathing ban and not to dive in the offending areas. The union order was also notified to the managers of the seaside beaches located in the stretch of coast affected by the provision.
The competent authorities are working to resolve the problem of the malfunction of the lifting pumps and to restore bathing in the affected areas.
In recent days, exactly on 8 June, the ConSenso municipal councilor Enrico Pedace had reported the spills but only on 12 June were the samples taken
