SEPA advice to avoid Portobello bathing water remains in place following week-long pollution incident

Swimmers are still be advised to avoid the water at Portobello Central more than a week after a pollution event.

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) issued an advisory notice to avoid swimming or bathing in the water on Thursday, June 11 after a “high bacterial result” was detected in a routine sample.

There were hopes that Portobello visitors would be able to get back into the water to coincide with a bout of good weather due to hit the city this weekend and into next week.

However, SEPA has confirmed that its advice remains in place to avoid the water at this moment in time.

Portobello is usually a busy hotspot during the summer months, but visitors are being told to stay out of the water as a SEPA pollution warning remains in place after more than a week. | Getty Images

A spokesperson for SEPA said: “SEPA are aware of a high bacterial result at Portobello Central bathing water.

“Our officers are currently investigating the cause of this high result and if required will explore any mitigation measures.”

The agency confirmed that resampling of the water at Portobello Central took place on Tuesday, June 16.

In this sample, a lower level of bacterial levels were detected but SEPA’s advisory remains in place as this is “still too high to remove the advice against bathing/paddling”.

The cause of the pollution event has also not been disclosed.

The spokesperson added: “Further water samples will be taken from the bathing water to determine if there is any ongoing impact.

“Advice against bathing will remain in place until SEPA are satisfied water quality at Portobello Central is no longer impacted.”

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As reported earlier this week, visitors to Portobello Beach and local residents have been left frustrated at the ongoing restrictions.

Alex Martin from Portobello Surf Lifesaving Club, which teaches children vital water safety, previously told the Evening News: “When there's a pollution incident we can't go in the water.

“Obviously, private individuals will make their own decisions but we can't put people in the water and then they get sick. We have to do what [SEPA] say.”

He added: “Lots of people look at the Surfers Against Sewage app and that has an alert that says there's a water pollution incident at the moment. If people are coming down from town they might say well we're going to go to The Meadows or we're going to go somewhere else instead of coming to Porty.”