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This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at La Conselleria de Medio Ambiente detectó que un tercio de las aguas costeras de Galicia está contaminado

The Ministry of the environment found that a third of the coastal waters of Galicia is contaminated

02/05/2011

May 02, 2011

One-third of the coastal waters of Galicia is in poor condition according to the Environment Department, after making the first analytical to check whether the Galician RIAs meet standards of environmental quality that makes the EU in 2010. After analyzing 51 areas scattered throughout the coast, has been identified that 29% presents a chemical state "bad". Contaminated areas include the ría de Vigo, which weighs also the threat of a million dollar fine by the EU for breaching the treatment of urban wastewater. This warning joins the fine of 20 million for pollution of shellfish, which was parked temporarily after accepting Brussels the integral plan of cleansing of the estuary.

Own Xunta is aware that an important part of the Galician coastal waters does not meet the minimum standards of quality. For the first time in 2010 the Ministry of the environment launched a network of control of dangerous substances in coastal waters. Technicians hired by the Department led by Agustín Hernández samples taken in the estuaries, analyzing separately those areas close to the ports and waters of transition, i.e., the areas in the mouths of the rivers, as said it an Ombudsman of the Galician Government.

The diagnosis was that they were a "bad chemical state" areas opposite Vigo and Moaña, in the RIA of Vigo. Contamination on the coast of Marin was also detected. In A Coruña coastal waters of Corcubión, Bens, A Coruña and Ares violate environmental norms. The area of A Mariña nor passed the sieve.

Between ports, samples reveal that Vigo, Marín and Ferrol have rates of chemical substances over the environmental values set by the EU.

Substances

The analytical reflect that these areas have high levels of metals such as lead, mercury or cadmium as well as substances as the benzo perileno or benzo fluoranteno, which are hydrocarbons.

Poor cleansing of waste water is one of the main causes of pollution of the Galician rias, and could also leave him very expensive to the competent authorities. In Vigo the sewage treatment plant to be built in Lagares (currently are already in competition the project and the work) will help to curb the fine of 20 million of the EU by pollution of shellfish. However, this penalty was joined last April a judgment of the Community Court of Justice condemning the Spanish State for violating the directive on the treatment of urban wastewater in Vigo and other eight woman of Galicia (A Coruña)(Santiago, Baiona, Tui, Noia, Ribeira, affection and Viveiro).

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