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Warning! Blue-green algae endanger bathing lakes in Thuringia - don't swim!
In Mansfeld-Südharz, authorities are warning against bathing bans in small storage facilities because of blue-green algae. Health risks for people and animals.
Warning! Blue-green algae endanger bathing lakes in Thuringia - don't swim!
In the summer heat, many Cologne residents look for cooling refreshments, and of course the desire to swim in one of the local waters is quite obvious. But not all lakes are currently suitable for swimming, as the Thuringian Long-Distance Water Supply (TFW) warns. How MDR reported that bathers should avoid cooling off due to possible blue-green algae contamination in several small storage tanks.
The TFW states that the 62 small storage facilities under its care are not considered designated bathing lakes. During visual inspections in some waters, includingBlintendorf,OberlemnitzandSeuptendorf, dangerous impurities detected. There is even a clear warning that animals should not be watered at these reservoirs. However, the water quality of these small storage tanks is not controlled, which raises additional concerns.
Be prepared for increasing bathing bans
The problem with blue-green algae is not new. Over the last few years, these cyanobacteria have increased significantly nationwide. Loud Weather.com Bathing bans were imposed in at least 32 places in Germany between July and mid-August 2019, and the algae appeared earlier this year too. Several lakes in North Rhine-Westphalia are particularly affected, where bathing bans have been imposed in Duisburg, Petershagen and Mülheim an der Ruhr.
Blue-green algae poses a health threat to more than just humans—swallowing the contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal problems, while animals, including dogs, can be seriously harmed by the toxic algae. The request to exercise caution before swimming in affected waters is urgent given the health risks.
Nationwide overview and control
The water quality in bathing waters is continuously monitored in Germany. There are numerous resources available for information and current data, such as on the website Federal Environment Agency can be found. In 2024, 2,291 bathing waters were examined, with the number of bathing bans also being statistically recorded. Of a total of 13,207 water samples, 98 percent received a positive assessment in accordance with the quality requirements of the EU Bathing Water Directive.
With 72 closures due to blue-green algae once again being a focus, it is clear that the threats posed by such waters need to be taken seriously. Only one swimming lake in Thuringia, the Breitungen lido, had to close temporarily. But the situation is no better in many other regions, and the authorities specifically advise against bathing, for example for small children and people with a weakened immune system.
The urgently needed information about bathing water quality is available for summer 2025. It is to be hoped that the situation will soon stabilize and Cologne residents will soon be able to dive into the refreshing waters again without any worries.