Pomorskie: bathing water in all bathing areas by the sea and lakes

Current information on bathing water status can be found on the website of the Main Sanitary Inspectorate. According to the data provided there, on Wednesday in all protected bathing sites organised this summer in the Pomeranian province – both those on the Baltic and those on the lakes – the water is free of dangerous blues and can be safely used.

The health department recalls that in the event of a blue flower, an absolute ban on entering water is recommended. Bathing in contaminated water can cause adverse reactions: from skin rash to conjunctival redness. Gastrointestinal disorders, including diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain, may occur if such water is swallowed.

The cyanobacteria (cyanobacteria) belong to bacteria and are counted among the oldest organisms found on earth. They occur in both salt and inland waters, floating freely in water. During windless weather, some cyanosis can float to the surface of the water and create goats there. They look like spilled paint, jelly, or flakes floating on the surface of water.

The health department notes that it is not to confuse cynics with macroglones that can float at the surface of the water in the lake's or Baltic shore zone. Often the waves throw away these green mats on the shore of the beaches, which, although they do not look aesthetically and as a result of decomposition by bacteria, can emit unpleasant odors, they themselves are not harmful and are not a source of toxins.

As the health department emphasizes, the seasonality of mass cyanobacteria blooms is a natural phenomenon occurring in nature. Factors that affect the appearance of blue water blooms are, among others, water temperature above 16-20 degrees Celsius (although cynic blooms and lower temperatures are known), the presence of biogenic salts (especially phosphates), weak wind and no rainfall.

Predicting the occurrence of water blooms is very difficult, as changing weather conditions such as sun exposure are important here, wind Or rain. Therefore, it is impossible to determine in advance when cyanosis will appear, and how long they will persist in a given water reservoir. Usually in places shielded from wind, coves, where there is less wave and mixing of waters, cyanosis can last much longer than in open space. Off the coast of the Gulf of Gdańsk, a mass blue flower can be noted only on parts of beaches, and this is related to the direction and strength of wind, which can move the surface flower even in a few hours.

The Health Department points out that the use of bathing sites during the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated risk of infection is essentially about spreading infection by droplet and direct contact. Therefore, in the case of coastal bathing sites whose beaches are several kilometres long, and which are not restricted, it is necessary to seek to maintain a social distance from bystanders, to provide at least 4 square meters of space per user (does not apply to people living together).

The health department also recommends, among others, the use of its own tourist equipment and toilet equipment, such as blankets, travelling rugs, sunbeds, mats, towels, learning equipment or swimming facilities.

Written by Krzysztof Wójcik/PAP