Tourists in Italy face polluted sea or lake water at one in three bathing locations, according to the latest environmental report highlighting frequent breaches of legal limits. Legambiente’s 39th annual “Goletta Verde” survey reveals a nationwide map of high-risk zones, attributing contamination primarily to pollution and inadequate wastewater treatment, exacerbated by climate change impacts.
Testing of 388 coastal and lake sites across 19 regions showed 34% exceeded legal pollution thresholds—equating to one in three samples. Specifically, 35% of monitored coastal points were “polluted” or “heavily polluted,” averaging one tainted site every 80 kilometers. In lakes, 30% violated legal standards. Areas distant from river mouths or discharge points fared better, with only 15% (30 of 200 samples) surpassing limits.
The Mediterranean’s surface temperature hit a ten-year high this June–July, averaging 25.4°C. Alarmingly, 54% (101 of 188) of river, canal, and stream outlets into seas or lakes were polluted. Of these, 56% had unmonitored public beaches nearby, rendering them unsafe for swimming.
Legambiente urgently calls for a national water protection plan, increased funding to modernize treatment plants, and stricter oversight by regional and local authorities. The group notes over 220 km of sandy coastline (6.6% of Italy’s 3,346 km total) remain unmonitored, with public beaches scarce in some regions. Rising sea temperatures threaten marine biodiversity and intensify extreme weather through increased evaporation and thermal energy buildup.
The association stresses addressing root causes: untreated sewage and illegal discharges. Italy has already paid €210 million in EU fines for wastewater mismanagement. Recent revisions to EU wastewater directives will require plant upgrades costing €645 million to €1.5 billion for large facilities alone.
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