Campania coast water quality fails limits in majority of sites

Legambiente Campania’s Goletta Verde summer monitoring campaign tested coastal waters in the provinces of Napoli, Caserta and Salerno between late June and early July. The results show that 83% of the 31 sampling points exceeded legal limits for microbiological contamination, with 13% classified as polluted and 35% as heavily polluted. Elevated concentrations of Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci were recorded, especially at river mouths, indicating ongoing problems with wastewater treatment infrastructure.

In the province of Salerno, 15 of the 18 sites sampled were above the permissible thresholds, prompting concerns for public health and tourism, a key economic driver for the area. The campaign also noted that 91% of the monitored locations lacked water‑quality signage for swimmers. Local officials, including the mayor of Centola, have sought to reassure residents and visitors that the contamination does not affect their municipality, while stressing the need for coordinated action among authorities, citizens and environmental groups.