Portugal’s minister for the environment, Maria da Graça Carvalho, advises people not enter rivers when the water is not of good quality, respecting signs in place. “People are only allowed to enter the water and bathe when the water quality is very good. When it’s not, there’s a warning that it’s not advisable,” said the minister, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the signing of a protocol for the rehabilitation of rivers in Estarreja in the Aveiro district.
Graça Carvalho was reacting to warnings from a group of environmental associations about the lack of monitoring and dissemination of microbiological control analyses in unclassified waters in various areas of the River Douro, putting “thousands of bathers” at risk.
“What’s happening in some of these areas of the River Douro is that local authorities have set up facilities that are pleasant but should be used on land. (People) shouldn’t enter the river because there’s a warning there that it’s not advisable,” said the minister. She also emphasised that the government is working to clean up the rivers, return them to the people, and create more quality river beaches.
