Bathing – where to look for places allowed for swimming?

Map of bathing sites

The “Bathing Service,” maintained and made available by the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, designates 671 bath ing sites and places designated for bathing. Each bathing area is under the supervision of the Sanitary Inspectorate, which makes a sanitary assessment of water quality.

A map of the bathing areas with their list is published on the website of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate.

How to find a bathing area?

We can find the bathing place we are interested in on the map or, knowing its name, on the list, using the search engine. When you find the place you plan to go, you get basic data about the water quality, the length of the bathing area’s shoreline, the organizer and the sanitary station overseeing the facility. In addition, the site includes information on bathing facilities, including. Whether there is a designated children’s area, whether there is a lifeguard, whether there is a possibility of mooring swimming equipment, whether pets are allowed to enter the bathing area.

Currently, the site shows the results of water quality measurements for the previous season. The first survey this year will be carried out by the Sanitary Inspectorate no earlier than 10 days before the opening of the bathing season, which is usually before June 1. Safety of use will be evaluated. If the result is satisfactory, the bathing area will be given “active” status and will be opened to amateur swimmers. Subsequent surveys will be carried out according to a set schedule – usually two to three surveys are conducted per season.

Each bathing area will be marked with symbols indicating the quality of the water or possibly that bathing is prohibited.

Bathing water quality

Below are the signs that will be found at the bathing areas. They are in accordance with the Decree of the Minister of Health dated December 21, 2018. on the records and method of marking bathing sites and places occasionally used for bathing (Journal of Laws 2018, item 2476).

Excellent bathing water quality

Good bathing water quality

Sufficient bathing water quality

Inadequate bathing water quality

Ban on bathing

The method of classifying bathing water quality is carried out on the basis of the Regulation of the Minister of Health of January 17, 2019. On the supervision of water quality in the bathing area and the place occasionally used for bathing. This classification is done in a very complicated way that takes into account a number of considerations. But in a nutshell, it can be considered that excellent bathing water quality means that there have been no long-term exceedances of the quality indicators considered for evaluation at this location over the past four years. And the possible reduction in quality that occurs is incidental.

Bathing water tests are performed for exceedances of microbiological contaminants (Escherichia coli, enterococci) and cyanobacterial blooms (streaks, dross, foam) and proliferation of macroalgae or marine phytoplankton. In addition, the presence of other contaminants such as tarry materials, glass, plastics, rubber and other waste (in amounts or forms that cannot be immediately removed from the water) is assessed.

Ahead of the season, we invite you to familiarize yourself with the map of bathing sites and keep up to date with the water quality information collected in the bathing service.