Swimming lakes and outdoor pools: water quality ensures safety in Jerichower Land!

Swimming lakes and outdoor pools: water quality ensures safety in Jerichower Land!

The coming hot days will attract many water lovers to the region's lakes and outdoor pools. How Meetingpoint JL reported, there are some beautiful swimming lakes available, including Zabakuck, Gommern, Dannigkow, Niegripp and Parchau. Outdoor swimming pools in Möckern, Lübars and Ziepel also invite you to cool off. However, the latter remains closed at the moment due to construction work.

The water quality of these recreational opportunities is carefully monitored by the county health department. Between four and five water samples are taken weekly to ensure the safety of bathers. Daily visual inspections in outdoor pools and taking water samples are particularly important in order to identify any problems at an early stage.

Current water quality situation

There are currently no significant abnormalities regarding water quality in the region, which ensures that citizens can enjoy swimming. However, a slight development of cyanobacteria was detected in the Kulk in Gommern, which did not result in a swimming ban, but swimmers are advised to be careful in this body of water. At other bathing lakes and in the outdoor pools, lifeguards are on hand during opening hours to ensure the safety of bathers.

Cyanobacteria, also known colloquially as blue-green algae, are gram-negative bacteria that can occur in many bodies of water and come from very ancient organisms. Normally they are harmless, but if they spread widely they can pose health risks. Concentrations can increase during the bathing season, especially in warm summers, which favor the growth of these microbes. According to that Federal Environment Agency Climate change can also have a negative impact on water quality.

Risks from cyanobacteria

The risks from cyanobacteria lie primarily in small children, who can ingest large quantities while playing in the water. Symptoms such as skin irritation or gastrointestinal illness could occur in the case of contaminated water, although non-specific symptoms can also be caused by other bacteria. If the water is cloudy green or red, you are advised to pay attention to warning signs and avoid contact with the water, posing potential dangers to people and animals, especially dogs.

Of particular concern is the fact that many bodies of water in the region are susceptible to cyanobacteria blooms due to elevated nutrient concentrations. Nutrient balance, particularly total phosphorus, plays a crucial role in the growth of these bacteria. However, as long as the concentration of total phosphate is below 30 µg per liter, the growth of cyanobacteria remains limited. Another example of this development was the year 2018, which was characterized by persistently warm temperatures and resulted in increased cyanobacteria levels.

For all Cologne residents looking for nature, one thing remains clear: summer is here and the bathing lakes and outdoor pools are waiting to offer refreshing experiences. Always follow the water quality information and enjoy a carefree day on the water!