The beaches in Chisinau endanger the health of those who go swimming or sunbathing there. When coming into contact with contaminated sand or water, the persons risk catching different infections. Such a conclusion was reached by the local authorities as a result of discussions on the situation of beaches, Info-Prim Neo reports. “According to laboratory examinations performed this month, the quality of water in most of the recreational areas does not meet the sanitary norms as regards the microbiological and sanitary-hygienic indicators. The bacillus coli index is twice higher than the norm, while in the Nistru water even six times higher,” said the head of the Municipal Public Health Center Constantin Rimis. Only the water in the lake of “Valea Morilor” Park meets the sanitary norms, not yet the sand. According to Constantin Rimis, the sand is contaminated when the people walk their pets on the beach. Thus, the sand should be changed, not only refined. By touching infected sand, the people can get skin and acute diarrheic diseases or even cholera. Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca said the people who rest on the beaches and leave piles of garbage after them are to blame. They also leave broken bottles and the children walking there can cut their soles. Many people also use the changing cubicles as toilets. However, no person was penalized. The representative of the Chisinau Ecological Agency said the fines can be imposed by the police and the Agency, but they work from Monday through Friday, not on the weekend, when most of the people rest on beaches. The mayor suggested empowering those who clean the areas to impose penalties. The municipal police next week will present a report on how the persons who throw litter on the beach are penalized. There are seven public beaches in the municipality of Chisinau.