The water quality of the swimming beaches is monitored regularly during the swimming season

Environmental health in Etelä Häme monitors the water quality of the public swimming beaches of Forssa, Hausjärvi, Humppila, Janakkala, Jokioinen, Lope, Riihimäki, Tammela and Ypäjä during the swimming season from June 15 to August 31. During the season, 3–4 bathing water samples are taken from the swimming beaches, from which bacteria of faecal origin are determined. The presence of cyanobacteria, i.e. blue-green algae, is monitored sensorially when taking samples.

In the first sampling round, the water quality of the swimming beaches was good. Only the first sample from the Suujärvi swimming beach of the Tammela Saari public park on June 3 exceeded the action limit for enterococci of intestinal origin. However, in the repeat sample on June 7, the enterococci had decreased considerably and the water was suitable for swimming again.

You can see the latest results on the notice boards at the swimming beaches

The next round of sampling will be done in the week starting July 8. The results of the swimming water samples can be seen freshly on the notice boards of the swimming beaches and on the environmental health website as a pdf.

In addition to the supervised swimming beaches, there are numerous swimming spots in the area that are not supervised and swimming water samples are not taken from them.

The blue-green algae situation can vary even during the same day

It is difficult to predict the occurrence and duration of blue-green algae blooms, and the blue-green algae situation on the beach can change very quickly even during the same day. You should always visually check the quality of the swimming water before swimming. Do not swim in water with a lot of blue-green algae. Even a small amount of blue-green algae should be treated with caution.

Blue-green algae cannot be picked up with a stick

A simple glass or stick test can be used to identify blue-green algae. In the glass test, the water is allowed to stand in the glass for about an hour. If green particles rise to the surface, it is blue-green algae.

In the stick test, the algae mass is lifted with a stick. If the mass of algae remains hanging on the stick, it is something other than blue-green algae. Blue-green algae breaks down into particles in the water and cannot be lifted out of the water with a stick.

Blue-green algae can also be easily confused with pollen, which is more yellowish in contrast to greenish blue-green algae.

The results of the bathing water quality control on the beaches of the municipalities of the environmental health area of ​​Etelä Häme