The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Blue-green algae alarm: Health Department blocks Ebertshausener and Bergkirchner See

2022-06-14T15:03:41.579Z


Blue-green algae alarm: Health Department blocks Ebertshausener and Bergkirchner See Created: 06/14/2022Updated: 06/14/2022 17:01 By: Stefanie Zipfer Toxic: Swimming has not been allowed at the Ebertshausener See since last summer. © Claudia Schuri Because of a high level of blue-green algae, the health department has closed the Ebertshausener and Bergkirchner lakes. When will the waters be us


Blue-green algae alarm: Health Department blocks Ebertshausener and Bergkirchner See

Created: 06/14/2022Updated: 06/14/2022 17:01

By: Stefanie Zipfer

Toxic: Swimming has not been allowed at the Ebertshausener See since last summer.

© Claudia Schuri

Because of a high level of blue-green algae, the health department has closed the Ebertshausener and Bergkirchner lakes.

When will the waters be usable again for bathers?

Rather not this summer, says the authority.

Dachau

– The temperatures are rising, the sun is shining: It goes without saying that those who stayed at home want to spend their free time at one of the lakes and ponds in the district.

As in previous years, there will be no bathing fun at the Ebertshausener See.

And since Monday it has been clear: the jump into the cool water at the Bergkirchner bathing lake is also cancelled.

The reason for this are so-called blue-green algae or cyanobacteria, which - in high concentrations - can be dangerous for humans and animals.

The Dachau health department, which carries out checks on the local waters at regular intervals, recently found a corresponding bacterial load in the two lakes, which is why "bathing is not recommended from the point of view of infection hygiene".

According to the health department, the situation at Lake Ebertshausen is worse than in Bergkirchen.

At the Ebertshausener See, the blue-green algae have already excreted toxins, i.e. toxins.

According to authority spokeswoman Sina Török, anyone who bathes there or even swallows water can suffer from “many symptoms such as skin irritation or gastrointestinal problems”.

Although blue-green algae were recently detected in the Bergkirchner See, they have not yet formed any toxins.

"It is not clear when and if toxins are also excreted there, which is why we strongly advise against going into the water there either," says Török.

Lakes sampled once a month

The good news: At the other lakes that the district office samples once a month between May and September - these are the Eisolzrieder See, the Mückensee, the Stadtweiher in Dachau-Süd, the Heiglweiher, the Waldschweigsee, the Birkensee, the Obergrashofer See, the Neuhimmelreicher See and Karlsfelder See – the water quality is good.

Especially at the Karlsfelder See, which has a very good water exchange, there is no risk of blue-green algae.

According to the health department, the fact that the blue-green algae problem in the waters is spreading, not only in the Dachau district, could be due to “climate change and a lowering of the still water level”.

Warmer outside temperatures, less wind and a lot of direct sun lead to higher water temperatures, the nutrient content in the water increases and algae can therefore multiply unhindered.

If a microbiological examination reveals an infestation, "signs will be posted by the respective municipality," explains the health department.

"If blue-green algae are there, they won't go away on their own."

District office spokeswoman Sina Török

also read

Three swimming accidents at Karlsfelder See: injured swimmer in mortal danger - "will never be the same again"

The playground of the Greta Fischer School may not be planted for the time being - at least there will soon be a play container

How long the bathing warning or bathing ban will remain in place depends on how quickly the lakes regenerate.

One thing is clear, according to spokeswoman Sina Török: "If blue-green algae are there, they won't go away on their own." An "interdisciplinary approach to finding the cause and combating it" is therefore needed.

Structural changes to the body of water could be a solution;

certainly not chemical agents would help.

One thing is certain: it will no longer be possible to swim in the Ebertshausener See or in the Bergkirchner See this summer.

Spokeswoman Török: "We ask you to respect our instructions on this subject." The health hazards caused by blue-green algae do not only affect people, but also (domestic) animals, especially dogs.

Highly endangered: A high concentration of blue-green algae has also been detected at Bergkirchner See.

© Zimmerly

Contrary to what the name suggests, blue-green algae are green, streak-like structures in the water that usually swim 20 or 30 centimeters below the water surface.

Usually they are not distributed throughout the lake, but are concentrated in certain places.

The Federal Environment Agency generally recommends the following blue-green algae test to unsafe bathing lake visitors: Go slowly into the water without stirring up the mud.

If you can still see your feet in the knee-deep water, you can go swimming there.

If you can no longer see your feet, it is better not to bathe at this point.

By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Dachau newsletter.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-06-14

You may like

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-27T16:45:54.081Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.