Azores have 70 bathing waters approved for 2017

The ordinance approving the official list containing bathing and coastal waters of the Azores for 2017 and the respective bathing seasons was published today in the Official Journal.

The archipelago has a total of 70 approved bathing water. The start of the bathing season, depending on the zone, occurs between June 1 and July 1 and ends between August 1 and October 14.

The island of São Miguel is the island that has the greatest number of identified bathing waters, representing a total of 24. It is followed by Terceira with 15 and Pico with 11.

Faial has six identified bathing waters, while Graciosa and Santa Maria have four, each. In turn, there three on São Jorge, two on Flores and one on Corvo.

The Regional Directorate for Maritime Affairs is responsible for the process of identifying bathing waters in the archipelago and monitoring its quality.

In this regard, the Regional Director for Sea Affairs stressed that, "from May, the Government will start another monitoring programme for bathing water, which, this year, will target the collection and analysis of more than five thousand bathing water samples on all islands."

The results of this programme as well as other useful information on bathing water quality in the Region will be regularly published on the website of the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs at the email address www.aguasbalneares.azores.gov.pt.

Filipe Porteiro stressed that the management bodies of bathing areas "should ensure that these areas provide equipment and services for users during the bathing season, including adequate sanitation, waste collection and periodic cleaning of the entire bathing area."

The Regional Director also stressed that "the safety of swimmers is also a priority," noting that "there six scheduled courses for lifeguards on the islands of Santa Maria, Faial, Terceira and São Miguel." Interested parties should consult the portal of the Regional Directorate for Sea Affairs at http://www.azores.gov.pt/GRA/srmct-mar for further information on admission requirements and relevant dates.