Two of Albufeira’s popular bathing beaches have been closed due to a mysterious slick of dark-coloured water, spotted on Sunday morning.
The foul-smelling pollution has led to authorities warning tourists to stay out of the water.
The maritime authorities ordered the bathing ban at the INATEL beach and the German (Alemães) beach, as a preventive measure, after receiving complaints from members of the public.
The smelly water seems to have come down a rainwater conduit which has emitted malodourous debris into the sea near the beaches - and not for the first time, according to locals.
Swimmers have been warned off with the different coloured water clearly visible in the sea.
Water analysis has not yet revealed exactly what the putrid water contains.
Another annual problem in Albufeira is the Waste Water Treatment Station which regularly fails to cope with the volume of sewage at peak times. Instead this slurry is quietly discharged into the sea through an outfall near tourist beaches.
This decision to dump sewage is covered up by the excuse of 'mechanical failure at the treatment plant,' thus legally exempting the culprit from any censure from environmental bodies.
The beaches close until the solids are broken down by the motion of the waves or swept out to sea on a falling tide.
See, 'Sewage triggers bathing ban at Albufeira's Fishermen's Beach'
