Pedras Brancas

21.5°C Water temp · Jul 23

Portugal Coastal 1 - Excellent 21.5°C

Satellite image of PEDRAS BRANCAS — Satellite image © Esri

Pedras Brancas is a non-urban beach with an extensive sand strip characterized by a prominent line of dunes to the north and south. Located in the Leça River basin, it is monitored for bathing water quality according to Portuguese regulations.

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Water

Coastal water body (PTCOST2) in the Leça River basin.

Location

Municipality of Matosinhos. Monitoring point coordinates: 41.25333°N, 8.72472°W.

Season

June 14 to September 14, 2025.

Water Quality

Water quality is classified according to Decreto-Lei 135/2009 amended by Decreto-Lei 113/2012. Sampling frequency is every 3 weeks. No days of bathing advisories or prohibitions due to short-term pollution occurred during the 2024 bathing season. Potential microbiological pollution sources include faecal contamination from the local wastewater drainage network and from tributaries (Onda river and ribeira da Certagem) that empty near the bathing water.

Risks

Short-term pollution is unlikely but may occur due to excessive surface flow of tributaries during rainfall, which can lead to entrainment of microbiological load. Untreated effluent discharge may occur in case of malfunction in the Angeiras wastewater pumping station. Cyanobacteria proliferation potential is moderate with a history of bloom occurrences. Macroalgae and phytoplankton proliferation potential is low with no history of occurrences.