Overview

• Germany has 90.5% of its nearly 2,300 bathing sites rated ‘excellent’ under EU water quality standards this season.
• Last year saw 411 fatal bathing accidents reported by the Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft, highlighting the need for strict safety practices.
• Bathers should be aware of natural hazards such as harmful bacteria, toxic blue-green algae blooms, and skin-irritating parasitic larvae.
• Swimmers are urged not to enter the water after consuming alcohol, to heed local flag warnings, and never to swim alone.
• Children and non-swimmers require constant supervision and should use flotation aids only as a supplement to vigilant adult oversight.