Lageso completes inspection of bathing waters

Das Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales hat Berlins Badegewässer, etwa den Wannsee, im Sommer regelmäßig untersucht. Damit ist vorerst Schluss. (Archivbild)

With the official end of the bathing season in Berlin on Sunday, the State Office for Health and Social Affairs (Lageso) will cease its regular monitoring of bathing water quality. This summer, samples were regularly taken at all 39 official bathing areas, the authority announced.

According to the state office, the high temperatures caused heavy rainfall, which led to the combined sewer system in the city center overflowing. As a result, the water quality of the bathing areas on the Unterhavel was temporarily impaired. Elevated values indicating faeces were measured at individual bathing areas - as a result, bathing warnings were issued, as is currently the case at the Weißensee bathing area.

Current warnings for four bathing areas

At many bathing spots on the Unterhavel and Dahme rivers, dryness and heat as well as water temperatures of up to 25 degrees have encouraged algae growth in recent weeks. Warnings about blue-green algae were issued there from mid-July. There are currently still warnings for the Schmöckwitz, Kleine Badewiese, Grunewaldturm and Breitehorn bathing areas due to the development of blue-green algae and low visibility. Cercariae, larvae of small sucking worms, have also been found at some bathing spots. They can cause so-called bathing dermatitis in the form of a skin rash.

Bathing season lasts from May 15 to September 15

In the period from mid-May to mid-September 2024, the Lageso checked the bathing waters on a weekly or fortnightly basis. According to the information provided, this is also planned for the coming year.