Overview

• Saturday’s Inea bulletin confirms all beaches in Rio’s South and West zones and in Niterói are proper for bathing for the first time since 2023, a pattern also noted in September 2024.
• Crowds returned to traditionally troubled stretches including Botafogo, Flamengo, and Glória during a late‑winter heat surge, with forecasts up to 36°C on Saturday and 39°C on Sunday.
• Authorities link the gains to interventions begun in 2021, such as diverting the Rio Berquó and cleaning the Interceptor Oceânico, alongside expanded sewage collection and treatment.
• Inea still flags localized spots as unsuitable despite the broader clearance, including points on Barra da Tijuca, Leblon, Botafogo, and São Francisco in Niterói.
• Meteorologists expect spring rains influenced by La Niña next week, which could affect water quality, so residents are advised to check Inea’s updates.