As if construction sites and unavailable parking weren't enough, now on the Quartu stretch of Poetto beach, beachgoers are forced to deal with another problem. As they sunbathe on their towels, they're accompanied by a nauseating odor coming from the salt flats. An unbearable stench that has persisted for days, and beachgoers say, "can't stand it anymore. So much so, that it gets even stronger in the heat. The classic 'dead fish' smell."
The Molentargius Park Authority explains what's happening: "The reported odors can be traced back to the temporary lowering of the water level in some areas of the wetland, a phenomenon that, combined with high temperatures, can favor the surfacing of sediment and intensify the natural decomposition processes of organic matter." That said, "In recent months, an electric pump at the Rollone River broke down, and the water supply was interrupted by the wastewater treatment plant operator for urgent work. However, the situation has now returned to normal, and the bodies of water are filling up again as quickly as the high temperatures allow."
Any malfunction of these devices or interruptions in the water supply from the purification plant therefore affects the entire system. Furthermore, in the summer, high temperatures cause intense water evaporation, which in the hottest periods can reach up to a centimeter per day. This represents a significant water loss: to replenish the volume of water evaporated in a single day, the electric pumps require an average of three days of operation. For this reason, the systems operate continuously and water levels are constantly monitored.
