There are blue flags, which recognize the excellence of a beach, and“black flags” that warn of health hazards to bathers due to poor water quality. This year, 2024, bathing was banned in several areas of Lazio due to pollution and water quality problems. Here are the main areas affected.
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- Ardea: the mayor signed an ordinance that does not allow bathing in the waters around the mouth of ditches and canals (4 km stretch of coastline)
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- Torvaianica: four beaches near the ditches have been banned from bathing for summer 2024
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- Viterbo: four areas unsuitable for bathing have been highlighted for spring-summer 2024 in the Viterbo area
Specifically, in Torvaianica, bathing was prohibited on four beaches near the ditches, specifically:
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- Pratica d itch, 250 meters to the left and 250 meters to the right of the ditch
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- Crocetta ditch, 250 meters to the left and 250 meters to the right of the ditch
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- Orpheus d itch, 250 meters to the left and 250 meters to the right of the ditch
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- Rio Torto d itch, 250 meters to the left of the ditch
In Viterbo, however, there is no bathing in several areas:
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- Military range area
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- Mouth of the Marta River, bathing prohibited at the mouth of the Marta River and 400 meters to the right of the same river
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- In the vicinity of the Ports of Bolsena, Capodimonte and Marta
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- Lake Vico
There are other areas mentioned in the list, published by the Lazio Region, of waters not used for bathing in 2024. For example, we find areas in Santa Marinella, Terracina, Sabaudia, Formia, Anzio, and several ports.
As a reminder, those who do not comply with the bans, in addition to putting their health at risk, are subject to penalties, established by Article 1164 of the Navigation Code.