Of the 20 points monitored on the Tuscan coast, 10 were found to be beyond legal limits, and they are almost all river mouths, indicating critical issues due to high microbiological concentrations of Escherichia coli and intestinal Enterococci. The reports from Goletta Verde to the competent authorities are made if the concentration of even one of these two microbiological species exceeds the legal limit.
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Sea and river mouths
The monitoring of the Tuscan coast this year took place on July 6, 7, and 8: the volunteers of Goletta Verde from Legambiente sampled 20 points looking for potential pollution due to inadequate or inefficient purification. Specifically, 20% of the sampled points were found polluted, while 30% were found heavily polluted, according to Goletta Verde’s assessment. The monitoring covered 25% of the sea points (5) and 75% of points taken in critical discharge situations, river mouths (15), for a total of 20 points.
Province of Grosseto
Of the 6 points monitored in the province of Grosseto, 50% were within limits, including the sample at the mouth of the Bruna river in Castiglione della Pescaia, the sea near the mouth of the Albegna river at Bocche di Albegna in Orbetello, and the beach facing the canal at Poggio Pertuso/Cala Galera in Monte Argentario. Of the remaining 3 points, the mouth of the Osa river in Fonteblanda in Orbetello was polluted, while the points at the mouth of the Gora river in Follonica and at the Tagliata Etrusca ditch in Ansedonia (in the Municipality of Orbetello) were heavily polluted.
Province of Livorno
Six points were monitored in the province of Livorno, including the four points on Elba Island. The monitoring results show four points within limits: the mouth of the Cecina river at Marina di Cecina, the single mouth of the Mola ditches in Mola in the municipality of Capoliveri, the Madonnina ditch at Punta della Rena in Portoferraio, and the mouth of the Galea la Pila ditch in the municipality of Campo nell’Elba. The other two points are the mouth of the Salivoli ditch/discharge at Marina di Salivoli in the municipality of Piombino, found heavily polluted, and the beach near the fish pier in the port area of Marciana Marina, found polluted.
Province of Lucca
In the province of Lucca, 2 points were monitored, both found beyond legal limits: the mouth of the Fiumetto ditch at Marina di Pietrasanta, found heavily polluted, and the mouth of the Abate ditch at Lido di Camaiore, found polluted.
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Province of Massa
Of the 4 sampling points monitored by Goletta Verde in the province of Massa-Carrara, the points at the mouth of the Lavello stream in Partaccia in the municipality of Massa and the mouth of the Brugiano river between Partaccia and Ronchi, also in Massa, were found heavily polluted. The point at the mouth of the Carrione stream at Marina di Carrara was found polluted, while the point at the mouth of the Versilia river in Cinquale, in the municipality of Montignoso, was within limits.
Province of Pisa
Two points were monitored in the province of Pisa, both within legal limits according to Goletta Verde’s monitoring: the points sampled at the mouth of the Arno river at Marina di Pisa and the mouth of the overflow canal in Calambrone.
Missing signs
Regarding bathing prohibition signs, a useful tool for simple information to warn bathers of potential issues, Goletta Verde technicians did not find them at 60% of the points monitored at river mouths; in fact, they were absent in 12 cases. As for the quality of bathing waters, Goletta Verde technicians did not find information signs for tourists and bathers about the quality of bathing water at 85% of the sampling points; such signs were identified at only 3 points.
The assessment
“Compared to last year, we have observed slight improvements in the quality of river waters flowing into the coastal areas of Tuscany: in the northern area, the improvement particularly concerned the mouth of the Versilia river (which went from heavily polluted to compliant). Elba is also doing better: at the mouth of the Mola ditch in Capoliveri (which went from heavily polluted to compliant) and at the fish pier in Marciana Marina (which went from heavily polluted to polluted). However, some critical issues remain stable at the river mouths in the central and southern parts of Tuscany: in the areas of Salivoli, Follonica, and Ansedonia, all sampled points are heavily polluted,” declared Fausto Ferruzza and Federico Gasperini, respectively president and director of Legambiente Toscana. “Therefore, the critical issues concerning the purification system persist, which should be adapted to the increased anthropic pressure recorded during the summer months, also considering the climate crisis. Furthermore, nature should be leveraged to help with the ecological rehabilitation of watercourses to make them more resilient. In the coming years, we will verify whether the improvement observed in the northern area and Elba will become a positive trend or if it was just an isolated episode this year.”
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