A new sewage system to enable boats to pump out their waste tanks is being installed along the harbour in Fethiye.

New rules forbidding commercial vessels including gulets, day boats and dive boats from pumping out their waste water into the sea were enacted earlier this year.

However, many boat owners were concerned that they couldn’t comply with the rules because there were no facilities for them to safely empty their waste holding tanks.

So the Council, keen to get the works completed as soon as possible, placed public works tendering rules on hold and has now started the work.

They are currently constructing the new system that will see around 850 metres of pipes laid from the War Memorial towards the ancient theatre.

Unfortunately the work does involve significant noise, mess and dirt as they need to dig up the busy promenade.

The Council aware that this will spoil the area for visitors, especially in the middle of the tourist season, has apologised for the disruption but says it will be worth it as our seas will now be cleaner.

The works which started on Tuesday are expected to last around two weeks.