This year as usual the Legambiente Goletta (schooner) monitored critical points in lakes throughout Italy. At the end of July it was the turn of the Lazio lakes: 26 samples from the 10 largest lakes in Lazio were subjected to microbiological analysis to determine the presence of intestinal enterococci and escherichia coli bacteria. Of all these samples, 5 are outside the legal limits, of which 4 (out of a total of 7 samples) come from Lake Bolsena. An embarrassing result (see the table), especially if we consider that for many years – since the first Goletta in 2006 – the same critical points have always been highlighted: points at the mouth of canals and ditches, which bring microbiological pollution into the lake, pollution caused by poor purification or illegal sewage discharges.
It is true that the analyses of the Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment (ARPA) assigned Lake Bolsena excellent bathing quality, and it is also true that this year, thanks to funding from the Lazio Region, Talete has managed to almost completely eliminate leaks from the circumlacual sewage system.
However, the constant pollution by sewage from some ditches contributes to the external load of nutrients in the lake and therefore to its eutrophication, and presents a danger for swimmers near the critical points (see the map). In addition, all of this damages the image of the lake, in contrast to the current efforts of the mayors to enhance the environmental and cultural heritage of the area.
It is also embarrassing because we know that these problems are ultimately solvable, as our association has shown in collaboration with the Municipality of Gradoli for the Rigo ditch, where the main source of pollution has been identified and eliminated. We propose such cooperation with the municipalities of Bolsena, Montefiascone, San Lorenzo Nuovo and Marta as well as Talete (as the identification of the illegal wastewater is an activity provided by the protocol of understanding), and we are convinced that together we can eliminate the sources of pollution by next year. Wouldn’t that be a nice surprise for the Goletta?
