On Tuesday, August 13, the TRNC Ministry of Health released the results of water tests on Ayfilon beach near Rizokarpaso - the level of E. coli is off the charts.
More than 2,400 colony-forming units have been found in 100 milliliters of seawater, although their exact number has not been established. 290 intestinal enterococci per 100 ml of water were also recorded. Both of these indicators significantly exceed the maximum permissible levels set by both the Northern Cypriot authorities and the European Union.
According to regulations, a content of no more than 500 colony-forming units of Escherichia coli and 185 intestinal enterococci per 100 ml of water is considered safe.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even minimal exposure to these bacteria can cause serious illness. The level of E. coli on Ayfilon beach is almost five times higher than the permissible norm, and the level of enterococci is 24 times higher than the minimum level at which the disease can occur.
Environmentalists express serious doubts about the veracity of official data. Biologist Hasan Sarpten said the results of the analysis "do not reflect reality." He was supported by the Secretary General of the Turkish Cypriot Medical Association, Dr. Ceyhun Dalkan, who called for more detailed and regular reports on the state of sea water to be published.
Controversy also arose last month over seawater testing, with Green Action Group chairman Feriha Tel criticizing the lack of specific figures in the reports, raising doubts about their reliability.
