Estonian Health Board Disagrees with European Report on Bathing Water Quality
A European report shows that less than 70% of Estonia's bathing sites have excellent water quality, but the Estonian Health Board disputes this, stating that their own monitoring found problems in only 3 out of 65 sites. The board attributes the discrepancy to variable weather.
According to a European Union report, 84% of over 22,000 officially registered bathing sites across Europe were classified as having "excellent quality" last season. However, Estonia ranked among countries with a lower share, with under 70% of its sites receiving the top rating.
The Estonian Health Board disagrees with this assessment. Pilleriin Kalms, head of the Environmental Health Department's service, stated that the report does not reflect the actual water quality situation in Estonia. Last year, the board monitored 65 bathing sites and found water quality issues in only three of them. "In Estonia, it is very good," she added.
The board notes that the statistics are influenced by Estonia's variable weather. In hot weather, bacteria and algae multiply faster, while cooler periods slow their growth, reducing the impact on water quality.
The EU Bathing Water Directive requires monitoring of Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci – key indicators of fecal contamination that signal potential health risks. Scientists identify two main causes of dangerous pollution: fecal discharges into water bodies and the influx of fertilizers, which promote the growth of toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
Currently, swimming is considered unsafe at two sites in Estonia: Aa beach in Ida-Viru County and Lake Arbi in Tartu County. Poor water quality has also persisted in the Anne Canal in Tartu, and enterococci have been detected in a lake in Viljandi.
