Especially with the warm weather, many people seek the cooling of water. Swimming in natural water:watch out for blue-green algae. Check in advance whether the water is safe and healthy, both for yourself and your dog.
It is summer vacation, it will be hot in the coming days and many people will stay in their own country this year. It is therefore not surprising that many people head for the water when the weather is nice. That can be the sea as well as lakes and puddles. The water means is not only wonderful for people, but also nice for dogs to cool off. Unfortunately, you have to take the blue-green algae into account before you dive into the water. Because blue-green algae is sometimes toxic and harmful to the health of you and your dog.
Puddles and lakes can suffer from blue-green algae, especially in the warm summer months. The blue-green algae is a microscopic organism that you can find everywhere in fresh water. The alga owes its name to the fact that a blue discoloration occurs when the cells break down. In the warm summer months, the water temperature often rises above 20 degrees. This, combined with little wind, provides the perfect conditions for the blue-green algae to grow excessively. Especially if there are also few plants in the water.
In principle, blue-green algae cannot be seen. Only when there is excessive growth, you can see it. As soon as floating layers form, which can be recognized by the green color, you know that there is blue-green algae. This can vary from a starting floating layer to a thick layer of foam (white or blue) that floats on the water.
Unfortunately, the answer to this is yes. Many blue-green algae are poisonous and therefore harmful to humans and animals. For humans because it enters the body through the mouth and skin. For dogs and other animals when they drink the water or lick the fur. To avoid swimming in water that poses a health hazard, you should visit the official swimmingwater.nl website. Here you will find all locations where you can swim safely and your dog can jump into the water carefree.
Have you swam in water where blue-green algae occurs? Then you can suffer from, among other things:
Usually these symptoms appear 12 hours after swimming. Especially with children, you have to be extra careful, because they often unconsciously ingest a lot of blue-green algae. If the symptoms are very bad, please consult a doctor in any case.
The swimming season lasts from May 1 to October 1. During that period, the bathing water is checked by Rijkswaterstaat. It is the responsibility of the provinces themselves to provide information to the public.
The water quality in the rivers has now greatly improved. However, due to all the discharges, the water is not suitable for swimming. Because river water is not considered bathing water, it is not checked here either. You can become very ill because of the bacteria and possibly blue-green algae. So stay away from rivers, no matter how attractive the water seems.
Swimming in open water involves risks. These recommendations for swimming in open water will help reduce these risks. What is your favorite spot to go swimming in natural water?
