Water quality in mainland Portugal deteriorated significantly during the summer, with the number of banned beaches more than doubling compared to previous periods. This situation represents a growing concern for authorities and the population.
The municipality of Matosinhos concentrates the highest number of beaches affected by water quality deterioration. However, it is in the inland areas of the country that the greatest concentration of problems is recorded, with almost half (47%) of the situations of water unfit for swimming occurring in rivers, streams and reservoirs.
This information shows that water contamination is not limited to coastal areas, also extending to inland watercourses and reservoirs, which suggests broader structural problems in the management of Portuguese water resources.
