ABRUZZO – A few days before the start of summer, the data released by the Regional Agency for Environmental Protection (Arta) have highlighted a further improvement in the general state of health of the Abruzzo sea.
The routine checks, in fact, carried out in the first days of the week, revealed only two stretches to be temporarily closed to bathing due to short-term pollution, a condition mainly due to intense storms or locally persistent rain, which generally does not affect the quality of the water for more than 72 hours: the first point is located in San Vito Chietino, 50 meters south of the mouth of the Cinzioni ditch; the second criticality was, however, found in Vasto, 100 meters north of the mouth of the Buonanotte stream. In both cases, the additional analyses, carried out 24 hours later, resulted in compliance with the microbiological parameters examined, i.e. Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci, leading to the revocation of the temporary ban.
As regards the temporary bans established by resolution of the Regional Council at the beginning of the season, the results in two of the three prohibited sections were found to comply with the legal parameters and the regional provision to lift the ban is therefore expected in the next few days. These are the stretches of sea located in the municipality of Pescara, in the area in front of via Leopardi, and in Vasto, near the Cordella seafront, in the area called “monument to the bather”.
Having obtained two positive results in as many consecutive samplings, carried out 15 days apart, the mayors of the territorially competent Municipalities were able to formulate requests to the Maritime Works and Marine Waters Service of the Region to obtain the revocation of the temporary bans. Results still not compliant with the legal limits, however, for the stretch of sea of Rocca San Giovanni, in the area in front of km 484.625 of State Road 16: in this case, it will not be possible to proceed with the restoration of bathing conditions.
Furthermore, the points located in Ortona, 350 meters south of the mouth of the Foro river and 200 meters south of the mouth of the Aielli river, remain prohibited for the whole of 2024; and in San Vito Chietino, 100 meters north of the mouth of the Feltrino river.
The quality of the water in the Abruzzo lakes is also excellent. The data from the samples taken from Lake Scanno confirm the “excellent” class in all 5 monitoring points, where no non-compliance was found. Lake Barrea, however, highlights only one critical issue in the point in front of the Gravare area: however, it was short-term pollution and the parameters returned to normal within 24 hours. For the point called “in front of Colle Ciglio”, where in the past some non-compliance with the legal parameters have been recorded, there is, however, a progressive improvement in the quality of the water.
So far, in 2024, Arta Abruzzo has analyzed a total of 342 sea water samples: the samples found to be non-compliant with the legal limit values, for the parameters that determine bathing suitability, represent just under 3% of the overall total with a decidedly improving trend in June monthly checks compared to May data and April pre-season data, mostly influenced by adverse weather events.
“In recent years, there has been a constant, albeit gradual, improvement in the quality of bathing water in Abruzzo – explains the general director of Arta, Maurizio Dionisio – this positive trend – continues Dionisio – is probably the result of more efficient management of the systems purification: a goal achieved thanks to the synergy between local authorities, specialized technicians and environmental authorities which is bearing concrete fruit, highlighting the importance of a coordinated and integrated approach in the management of the sea resource.
However – continues director Arta – we will continue to work to maintain a very high level of vigilance and control: the latest analyzes highlight that some local critical issues persist, in particular during extreme weather events. These phenomena – he explains – can put wastewater management systems to the test, causing temporary malfunctions.
It is therefore essential to continue to carefully monitor the situation and intervene promptly to mitigate the effects of such events.”
Like every year, the results of the analyzes carried out on bathing water will be inserted monthly in the “Bathing water portal” of the Ministry of Health and can be consulted by all citizens through the website www.portaleacque.salute.gov.it throughout the length of the season. They can also be consulted through the Agency’s website www.artaabruzzo.it.
