Sewage overflow closes popular St Paul’s Bay swimming spot
Il-Bajja tal-Għażżenin declared unsafe for bathing due to contamination risk, as authorities investigate source of sewage spill
Another bathing spot has been declared unsafe for swimming, this time in St Paul’s Bay.
A statement issued on Saturday evening by the Environmental Health Directorate said swimming at Il-Bajja tal-Għażżenin in St Paul’s Bay is not recommended “due to an overflow of sewage into the sea”.
“This incident may affect bathing water quality and poses a potential risk to bathers’ health,” the EHD said.
The bathing area, more commonly known as "is-Simenta", is a popular spot with locals, especially as it is easily accessible with comfortable ladders.
Environmental health officers are carrying out further investigations to determine the source and extent of the contamination, the directorate added.
This area at Il-Bajja tal-Għażżenin in St Paul's Bay is closed for swimming until further notice. Photo: Environmental Health DirectorateThe EHD could not predict how long the contamination will be in place.
Signs indicating the area have been fixed on site and will be removed only once the site is again fit for bathing.
Deputy Speaker and Shadow Minister for Consumer Protection Bernard Grech said the latest beach closure showed “the country’s infrastructure is in crisis and no one is taking responsibility”.
“Meanwhile, children and people were swimming and therefore were potentially exposed,” he added.
This is the latest in a series of bathing spots that were closed due to sewage overflow. On June 18, Balluta Bay was declared unfit for bathing after construction debris was found to have blocked a sewer line leading to sewage overflow into the sea. That warning was lifting on June 23.
On June 8 swimmers were warned not to swim at Dawret il-Qalb Imqaddsa in Birżebbuġa because of contamination as coming from private residences in Triq it-Tankijiet. That warning was eventually lifted on June 15.
A popular swimming spot in Ta’Xbiex, albeit not an official bathing area, was also closed because of an “overflow of foul water” but soon re-opened a few days later, although the Directorate at the time said investigations were ongoing to find a permanent solution to the problem by the responsible entity of the flood relief system.