Algae Foam Returns to Riva Gulf; Containment Challenges and Solutions
The cursed algae foam that has been tarnishing the image of the Riva gulf from April to November for years (it is an harmless and non-polluting sludge, but in tourists’ eyes, it looks just like toilet water used without a flush) reappeared in large quantities yesterday morning, when the sturdy barrier placed in front of the power plant’s outlet (which is indeed the source of all problems, along with the lake of Ledro flora centrifugation process) failed to completely contain the spread of the patch in the most frequented areas of the lakeside: namely the promenade from Casa Rossa to the port of Piazza Catena.
Interventions and proposals to contain the algae wave
The major return of the foam naturally alarmed the small volunteer task force led by Paolo Matteoti, who are trying to curb the phenomenon with floating rafts placed in front of the lake outlet of the forced pipelines from the power plant.
“We really need to think about making the underwater barrier more waterproof,” says Matteoti. “This is an essential technical modification because what we’ve put into the water so far can only work if the foam is reduced. Additionally, we should consider some type of tool to collect the sludge formed inside the barrier.
There is, and will be throughout the summer, a strong presence of boats and ferries: we can’t delude ourselves that the constant stirring of the water won’t cause leaks into the gulf.
Finally, I believe that those in charge of the plant should be asked to balance the dosing between the four outlets through which water exits the pipeline.”
Current situation and future prospects
The optimism of September (when the raft barrier had been positively tested, but it was a period of low algae concentration) is now giving way to a realistic awareness that the battle against the foam will be very tough again this year. The risk of long-term significant repercussions on the tourism economy cannot be underestimated.
Responsibilities and actions to be taken
Perhaps the rightest move was that of a private citizen (Giancarlo Angelini), who, with documentation in hand, informed the Procuratura about the “damage to the image” (is this a prosecutable offense?)
Certainly, if a similar initiative had been undertaken by the mayor personally, its impact and any investigations would have been much more effective.
Instead, there is no news of anything. What are the economic operators of Riva, the administrators, and the APT waiting for to put a bit of salt on Enel’s tail?
