Two beaches in Saint-Laurent-du-Var were closed on the morning of Tuesday, July 10, due to an Escherichia coli level that exceeded the standards. The municipality immediately alerted the prefecture to initiate an investigation to identify the source of the pollution. Last Thursday, one of the beaches was reopened.
Since today, rumors have been circulating regarding the origin of this pollution. Christian Estrosi, Deputy, Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, wants to put an end to them and is considering filing a complaint:
“These slanderous messages are absurd and unacceptable rumors. No pollution has been detected in Carros or at the wastewater treatment plant in Cagnes-sur-Mer or Saint-Laurent-du-Var, as some text messages or messages circulated on social media have claimed. Moreover, there have been no cases of illness reported in emergency rooms. We are therefore going to file a complaint against the dissemination of such slanderous messages.”
In accordance with what was stated during the week and after confirmation from the operator SEREX, the wastewater treatment plant in Saint-Laurent-du-Var is working properly and does not discharge pollution into the Var or onto the beaches.
The new equipment recently came into service, allowing two-thirds of the daily flow to be treated using a membrane process, which is currently the best process available. The last third of the flow is treated using the traditional process with a clarifier, as has been the case since the plant’s inception. In addition to this treatment, water disinfection is carried out with chlorinated products before discharge into the Var since the last quarter.
The plant complies with the discharge standards imposed by the State and ensures the disinfection of discharged waters with additional bacteriological treatment.
