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Six Costa Rican Beaches Contaminated, Lab Test Results Indicate
Inside Costa Rica

Before stepping foot in the water, best to be sure that the beach or river is not on the AyA list of the contaminated, following the findings by the water and sewer utility high contaminations of fecal matter in at least six beaches in Costa Rica. Testing by the Laboratorio Nacional de Aguas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA) shows that the beaches of Los Baños, Portete and Cieneguita, in the province of Limón; the Tárcoles, Giacalillo and Quepos beaches in the province of Puntarenas, have a high level of contamination of fecal coliforms.

The AyA lab results indicate that the beaches are not fit for swimming.

In the meantime, the beaches Jacó and Tamarindo passed the lab test after three years of water pollution problems. The AyA warns that although the beaches at Jacó and Tamarindo passed the tests, the nearby rivers and creeks continue to be contaminated, as hotels and homes flush their sewage without any type of treatment. The accepted level is 240 coliforms per 100.000 millitres of water.

However the Portete beach shows a concentration of 10.000 coliforms per 100.000 litres of water, while Los Baños tested at 7.500 per 100.000. The Cieneguita beach test at 700, while the Tárcoles 850, Gucalillo 500 and Quepos 400. One of the problems faced by these communities is the lack of local organizations to work in correcting the problems. The AyA tests the water quality of the beaches around the country as part of their "Bandera Azul Ecológica" program.

For more information on the "Blue Flag" program and the conditions of the beaches, go to:
http://www.guiascostarica.com/bazul/
http://www.visitcostarica.com/ict/pagin ... easurf.asp

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

you'd have a hard time getting me in the water at any beach called los banos.

Don't they say how ecologically friendly this country is? A few sewer plants would be nice

Oh Lord--Please let me hit the lottery and show CR what a few strategically placed sewage treatment plants can do for everybody's quality of life! But seriously, why aren't the bigger hotels/ resort areas chipping in together to do this? It's their tourist ratings that are being messed with, after all. Does "enlightened self-interest" mean nothing to them?
<signed>
El Suenero
I hope that means "The Dreamer".

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I don't know anything about sewage treatment but I think if you just dig a giant settlement pond and let the right weeds and stuff grow there in this climate it will get rid of at least the solids and some of the nitrogen before you send it out to sea.

Floating Turd blossoms are bad PR

but maybe they don't have plumbing in half these homes ?