Polski
High July temperatures encourage adults and children to enjoy recreational activities in the water. Those who went on vacation to the sea, river or lake, however, may have reason to be dissatisfied – closed bathing areas doom the chances of refreshment. Planning a vacation is all the more difficult because the situation changes from day to day – the quality of bathing water is continuously monitored by the regional services of the General Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS). Tourists staying at the Baltic Sea were exceptionally unlucky last week. What restrictions await beachgoers this week?
Cyanobacteria have taken over Polish beaches
The exceptionally warm season caused red flags to appear on Sopot’s beaches as early as the end of June. The cause was blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, which ruin many families’ stay in the Baltic Sea every year. Last week they made a real invasion of Tri-City beaches. Closed bathing facilities in Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot have made the July heat even more troublesome. During the first decade of July, swimming was also banned at beaches on the open sea, including. In Darłówek, Mielno and Władysławowo.
Recall that cyanobacteria, also known as cyanobacteria, are extremely common and hardy bacteria that are found in fresh and salt water and even in hot springs. Their mere presence is not yet a problem; on the contrary, in moderate quantities they are an important part of ecosystems, increasing oxygen production in the water. Some species of cyanobacteria in bloom, can produce compounds toxic to humans and animals. These include. Nodularia spumigena, a species present in the salty waters of the Baltic Sea, and freshwater species from the genera Dolichospermum and Microcystis.
Under favorable conditions, cyanobacteria begin to bloom en masse and become a danger to bathers. Blooms most often appear in situations:
- increase in water temperature;
- windless weather;
- lack of rainfall.
They are also favored by increased phosphate concentrations in the water and limited mixing of the water column. Depending on meteorological conditions, dangerous cyanobacterial blooms can occur suddenly and last from a few hours to a few days, lasting longer in wind-sheltered bays – hence in the Tri-City closed bathing beaches are a more common problem than over the open sea. The toxins produced by cyanobacteria in humans can cause skin rashes, eye irritation, vomiting and diarrhea, and even fever or muscle and joint pain. Symptoms sometimes occur with a delay of several days and, in the case of high exposure, cause serious conditions.
Fortunately for all those who went to the Baltic Sea in the third week of July, the situation should improve significantly. On Monday, July 15, no more blue-green algae blooms were registered anywhere along the sea.
Which bathing areas are still closed?
Bathing areas on Lake Szczucze in Golczewo, on Lake Trzesiecko (Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship), in Małe Swornychgaci on Lake Charzykowskie and in Swornychgaci on Lake Karsinski (Pomorskie Voivodeship) are still closed due to cyanobacteria blooms. The city beach at Lake Ukiel in Olsztyn (Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship) is also closed. Blue-green algae have also taken away swimming opportunities for tourists visiting Budziszewko on Lake Budziszewskie and the Średzki Lagoon in Wielkopolska. Excessive amounts of blooming cyanobacteria were also observed on the Stobrawa River in Ligota Górna (Opole Province) and on Lake Paprocany in Tychy (Silesia Province).
Other reasons for closing bathing sites in Poland
On Monday afternoon, summer residents staying at the Baltic Sea were surprised by the closed bathing area in Dziwnówek. According to local news site Dziwnow.net, a red flag was raised on the beach after an elevated concentration of E. coli bacteria was detected in a water sample taken at the site. Fortunately, other bathing areas in the Dziwnow municipality remain open. However, Escherichia coli in above-normal amounts has also been observed at a bathing site in Sulęczyn, on Lake Węgorzewo in Kashubia.
In Gdansk-Brzeźno on Monday afternoon, red flags were flown at three marine bathing areas around the pier. The reason for the bathing ban is contaminants potentially leaking into the water after a fire broke out the day before in a storage hall at the Port of Gdansk. Exceeding the allowable number of fecal enterococci, on the other hand, is an annual problem at the Water Valley bathing area in Koszalin. The local water has not met GIS requirements for three years now, and despite the efforts of the municipal authorities, a red flag has been flying on the beach so far this season as well.
Before heading to the water, we recommend checking the current status of closed bathing areas on the bathing service.
