Summer is here – at least for now! So we should seize our chance to let off steam in Berlin’s rich lake landscape as soon as possible. While the waters in and around Berlin are generally known for their good water quality, various factors occasionally mean that areas are not recommended for swimming. You can view all bathing areas, including those that should be avoided, on an interactive map from the State Office for Health and Social Affairs (Lageso). This office regularly monitors bathing water quality by testing random water samples. A deterioration in quality is to be expected when it has rained heavily – as it has recently – as this results in discharges from the urban area. This is currently the case in three zones on the map where swimming is not recommended. However, no formal ban has been issued for any of these areas, so you can decide at your own discretion whether you want to cool off there anyway.
Alternatively, you can of course use the many outdoor pools and indoor pools in Berlin (although most of the latter are currently undergoing maintenance).
Bathing area Groß Glienicker See – South
The map entry for the beach on the outskirts of Berlin shows a high concentration of enterococci and Escherichia coli bacteria, both common types of bacteria, in relation to other water samples. E. coli usually lives harmlessly in the intestine, but can cause nasty infections such as diarrhea or urinary tract infections if it gets into the wrong part of the body – this can happen very quickly when swimming! Enterococci are also intestinal inhabitants that often cause trouble in hospitals as they are resistant to many antibiotics. Long story short: you could catch your next gastrointestinal infection here!
Unterhavel bathing area near Gatow
The swimming spot near Gatow, on the other hand, has a completely different problem to contend with: blue-green algae are the problem child here. These are tiny creatures that live in water and are super old – they have been living on Earth for billions of years. Blue-green algae are important in principle because they produce oxygen and support life on our planet. In warm weather, however, they can multiply very quickly and form “blooms” that are toxic to humans and animals. Symptoms of poisoning range from gastrointestinal problems and allergic reactions to liver or kidney failure.
Badewiese Schmöckwitz
The bathing meadow in Schmöckwitz is spared from nasty bacteria, but unfortunately there is also too much blue-green algae here. It is therefore better to switch to nearby lakes such as the Lange See or Seddinsee, where the samples were inconspicuous.