In recent weeks, several cases of illness have been reported after people bathed in various places in the country.
The algae bloom has been strong in several places after June’s heat peaks, which may be one of the reasons, but after the recent cold, rain and wind, new problems await.
– It’s plague or cholera, says Mikael Krysell, unit manager for environmental monitoring at the Norwegian Sea and Water Authority.
In several parts of the country, people have become ill after swimming. Partly it may be due to the algal bloom that thrives in warm and still water, partly it may be due to the high water flows that came after June’s heat peaks.
– A problem could be that it has rained a lot recently. And that it then washes out a lot of crap from land. The treatment plants are filling up and may have to release dirty water, says Mikael Krysell, unit manager for environmental monitoring at the Maritime and Water Authority.
He believes the problems caused by the algal bloom will subside with the cool weather.
– The algal bloom should calm down when the sun is not shining. It is plague or cholera. If the water stands still in the heat, algae will form – if it rains, bacteria will appear, says Mikael Krysell.
– Especially with the algae bloom you don’t need to be worried, you generally see the algae and then you can avoid swimming there, he says.
Wait to bathe
In waterways where the water does not move much, it takes longer for the bacteria to disappear. Therefore, it may be good to wait with the bath after it has rained a lot.
– If you swim on the coast, the bacteria can perish quite quickly. In lakes, it can take a little longer, a couple, three days if it has rained a lot. The bacteria don’t live forever, they don’t grow when it’s not that hot, says Mikael Krysell.
Mikael Krysell urges you to check your municipality’s recommendations.
– Most municipalities have good control and warn if things are bad, he says.