Instead of a refreshing rest by the water, residents and visitors of the Košice district Nad jazerom (Over the Lake) are facing unpleasant news: swimming in the local lake is temporarily forbidden. The reason is the exceeding of the allowed amount of cyanobacteria, known as blue-green algae, which was found in recent water tests.
Why is this important?
The decision to ban was made by the Regional Public Health Authority Košice (Regionálny úrad verejného zdravotníctva Košice) after detecting a significant excess of cyanobacteria. These microorganisms, which multiply actively in warm water, can pose a serious threat to health, especially for children and people with high sensitivity.
What are the health risks?
Contact with contaminated water can lead to a number of unpleasant symptoms. These include:
- Skin and eye irritation.
- Digestive problems.
- Other complications that may occur after swallowing water or prolonged contact.
Cyanobacteria can produce toxins that affect the liver, nervous system, and cause allergic reactions. Even non-toxic species can cause inflammation and skin irritation. In some cases, especially with full immersion and accidental swallowing of water, more serious, even life-threatening illnesses are possible.
What to do?
The Košice city part – Nad jazerom urges all residents and visitors to strictly follow the ban and refrain from swimming. The situation is constantly being monitored, and the results of further control tests will be announced immediately.
Overall, cyanobacteria are a natural phenomenon in freshwater bodies, and their multiplication is intensified by climate change and water pollution with nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. This leads to more frequent and larger blooms, which can be observed even in winter.
Remember that it is impossible to visually determine the toxicity of algae, so it is always better to avoid contact with the water if you notice signs of blooming.
