Porty beach fails bacteria test for first time

Published on Monday 25 August 2008 10:55

PORTOBELLO has failed stringent European bathing water standards for the first time.

Regular tests over the summer found dangerously high levels of faecal bacteria at more than a quarter of Scotland's beaches.

The contamination at Portobello has been blamed on nearby sewage pipes overflowing after heavy rain fall put a strain on works at Joppa.

It is the first time such bacteria is believed to have been found at the beach, which has never failed examinations and has been rated as excellent for five out of the last 10 years.

Swimmers coming into contact with faecal bacteria can risk contracting salmonella or streptococcus, leading to possible stomach or throat infections.

August's heavy rainfall has led to beaches all over the country facing similar damning findings - all due to the weather. Sewage pipes have overflowed and rain has also washed bacteria from agricultural fields into the sea.

In Edinburgh, in the first three weeks of the month, rainfall was the heaviest since records began in 1958.

Calum McPhail, of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, is reported as saying:

"On most days water quality has been good or of the highest excellent quality, but clearly conditions can be affected by pollution from rainfall."