The monitoring of beach water quality of beaches and beach areas of the Autonomous Region of the Azores is promoted by the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, through the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs (DRAM), in accordance with the quality criteria and standards stipulated in the Regional Legislative Decree no.16/2011/A of May 30 which transposes into regional law the provisions of EU Directive 2006/7/CE of February 15 on the management of beach water quality. Subsequently, a certified laboratory was hired by the Government to monitor beach water quality in the Region in order to conduct sampling tests in the years 2011 and 2012.

The testing has been conducted since May and will run until September this year, comprising all islands. A total of 126 beaches and beach areas will subject to samplings and testing, of which 58 were considered “Identified Beach Waters in 2011” through ordinance no.342/2011 of March 15, published in the II series of the Official Journal of the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea.

The “identified beach waters” correspond to the locations within the European Union which are suitable for beach use in view of the fact that the respective water tests register quality values that comply with the rules in force. This list is annually reviewed.

According to the legislation in force, all those who are interest should be provided with the possibility of consulting of the results of the aforementioned tests. In the meantime, it is already possible to consult the first results of these tests on the Portal of the Government (www.azores.gov.pt) on the DRAM page by choosing the option “Beach Water Quality.” All beach waters that have been subject to monitoring tests were considered suitable for beach use.