A light sirocco breeze, the current carrying it ashore, and numerous boats at anchor. Add to this incivility, and you have all the ingredients for an unpleasant outcome: sewage and wastewater splashing into the swimmers.
It happened between late morning and afternoon near the fourth and fifth stops on the Poetto beach: the water surface was characterised by the presence of foamy material and other debris coming from the open sea.
Some people filmed the scene, outraged. And some took photographs. All commendable actions for reporting purposes. But apparently no one dialed 117 (the maritime police number) or 1530 for the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard and Harbour Master's patrol boats arrived among the boats, but they were there to carry out routine checks: among the many swimmers forced to contend with the filth, no one reported the problem. Fines, and there were some, were issued for other irregularities. But it was impossible to identify the person responsible for the sewage.
The Air and Naval Operations Unit of the Guardia di Finanza in Cagliari has issued a warning: if the phenomenon recurs, please immediately call 117 (or 1530). Only then can uncivilized individuals be held accountable for the pollution.
Enrico Fresu
