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Mar Menor lagoon

Posted: Sun Jul 7, 2019 10:45pm
27 replies1111 views7 members subscribed
chris whitley

Posts: 165

35 helpful points

Joined: 3 Oct 2018

I went for a  lovely bike ride this morning from Lo Pagan up to the Lighthouse heading south along the long peninsula  strip towards la Manga. Just past the lighthouse the stench became progressively worse until it was so bad I had to turn back, is it sewage? I can’t believe it’s sulphur. What can we do about it does anyone know?

Thelma

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 11:13am

Posts: 30

6 helpful points

Location: Lo Pagan

Joined: 30 Jun 2019

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 11:13am

I'm also really interested in any information on this post. We've put a deposit on an apartment in Lo Pagan but this is the second time I've heard bad comments. 

The first was about the beach a while ago and now about this stench. Are there problems each year and anything that would put tourists off. I wanted to do a Facebook page linking into this forum and a Facebook page that discusses all things Lo Pagan but I don't want to put potential renters off. 

We last visited in June and noticed the waves onto the beach carried a dodgy looking foam. And the was a black seaweed so thick you couldn't see through it.  I thought there was an official agency which monitored the environmental conditions in Lo Pagan?

Thelma

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 11:30am

Posts: 30

6 helpful points

Location: Lo Pagan

Joined: 30 Jun 2019

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 11:30am

Hello

On the positive side hoping this topic can be recitified I wonder if you could post details of any great bike rides you could recommend. We are next over in September and always hire bikes so would be interested in any info you can provide. 

We last cycled along the Chacaras to the end and then over to the left hoping to link up to the Marina and so come back along the the road past The Lodomar Hotel and back into Lo Pagan. Is there a route through this way please.

Also if we take bikes on the ferry to La Manga is it possible to cycle to where the shops and cafes are. I believe the ferry stop is quite a distance from the main part of La Manga. 

Thanks hoping, Thelma

Rascalmate

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 4:02pm

Rascalmate

Helpful member

Posts: 167

180 helpful points

Location: Sucina

Joined: 1 Oct 2018

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 4:02pm

The Local Councils have been under scrutiny across the whole of the Mar Menor, and adequate press coverage has been in the local newspapers.

Untreated unlawful effluent discharges (raw sewage) and nitrogen waste washed down off the farms with other contaminants in heavy rain.

Unfortunately, holidaymakers to the Mar Menor do not realize the filth they are wading and swimming in.

Blue flags? They wouldn't even get a red flag!

It's a terrible shame for such a beautiful area - then there is the jellyfish invasion to address. 

The Council put nets across the entrance to the Mar Menor at an annual budget of 40grand to stop jellyfish? 

How can a net stop a jelly fish. They can squeeze down a biro tube - nets? 

It's laughable. But when reported in the newspapers it looks good for tourism 😂 perhaps a red- herring disguise to stop complaints about sewage smells.

Thelma

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 4:59pm

Posts: 30

6 helpful points

Location: Lo Pagan

Joined: 30 Jun 2019

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 4:59pm

This post didn't really bode well so I've looked for more press news and it seems that San Pedro has El Mojon as a blue flag beach. The area has so much to offer we are still fans, but very much hope they will be aiming for more blue flags along the Lo Pagan area of Costa Calida. 

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Rascalmate

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 5:17pm

Rascalmate

Helpful member

Posts: 167

180 helpful points

Location: Sucina

Joined: 1 Oct 2018

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 5:17pm

Well the Euro Weely reported a few months ago  the Councils are on to it, working on it.

Water treatment companies are under warnings to clean up their act or else.

The big problem is farmers waste which pollutes the Mar Menor.

Unfortunately  the Menor is like a huge lake which does not get much tidal cleansing from the Med.

We often walk down the length of Alcazares Playa and you can smell the areas that are subject to effluent discharges, that come from carefully disguised pipework under the beaches into the sea.

Lets hope the contamination problems are quickly sorted for  the benefit of all.

Just for interest, here is part of the report with particular interest about the beaches of the Mar Menor;

FIVE MORE BLUE FLAG BEACHES IN THE REGION OF MURCIA.

It was announced Tuesday this week, bringing the total up to 31, although NONE  of them will be at the beaches on the Mar Menor for the second year running. 

The Blue Flag is awarded to beaches which meet a series of criteria regarding quality, cleanliness, facilities and safety.  The Town Hall of San Javier points out that many of the Mar Menor beaches are up to standard, in all the 27 requirements for flag to be awarded except one, namely the water transparency.  For this reason none of the towns or districts with Mar Menor beaches ( San Javier, Los Alcazares, San Pedro de Pinatar and Cartagena ) applied for a Blue Flag Status.

Says it all really.

Thelma

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 6:59pm

Posts: 30

6 helpful points

Location: Lo Pagan

Joined: 30 Jun 2019

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 6:59pm

Thanks for this information. Being in the UK and knowing little about the area it can be difficult to make sense of different information so we are glad we have a communal pool and aren't reliant on the beach. Apparently there is in Lo Pagan the Q Award info at May 2019 for the coming summer  

https://murciatoday.com/blue-flag-and-q-for-quality-beaches-in-san-pedro-del-pinatar-2019_514090-a.html?search=true&subject=927&town=64&town_search=true&town_inside=1

In the municipality of San Pedro del Pinatar the four beaches flying the Q for Quality flag during the summer of 2019 are those ofVillananitos, El Mojón, La Mota and La Puntica (in Lo Pagán).

Rascalmate

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 7:40pm

Rascalmate

Helpful member

Posts: 167

180 helpful points

Location: Sucina

Joined: 1 Oct 2018

Posted: Mon Jul 8, 2019 7:40pm

Blue flag beaches reach international recognized standards of quality.

Q flag beaches are self appointed by the Spanish authorities and Junta's. ( yea of course all their beaches make Q standard - I wonder why?)

Very very few make Blue flag quality.

There are accurate lists of 'safe ' blue flag beaches on the Murcia Today website and others local websites in the Mar Menor.

Those Q beaches have not made Blue standard for very good reasons. 😎

Cidergirl

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:51am

Cidergirl

Helpful member

Posts: 125

90 helpful points

Location: Torre-Pacheco

Joined: 12 Mar 2016

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 9:51am

I stick to swimming in the med. some lovely beaches near by. Torre de la Horadada, Mil Palmeras, Las Higuricas.  We are close to Los Alcazares, and it such a shame as the beach front is lovely but the water quality is off putting.  It's all,the nitrates and fertilisers from the farms.  Unfortunately the whole of the Mar Menor is the same.  Blue flags were lost a couple of years ago.

Sal

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 1:27pm

Sal

Posts: 19

8 helpful points

Joined: 27 Aug 2018

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 1:27pm

Yes there is a route along the sand to the marina but you need to do it at low tide. It’s about 7 or 8 miles from the start of the causeway back to the beginning. It’s my fa

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