Overview
- City water managers report new measurements showing roughly 80% of recent pollutant inputs to the Alte Donau come from people, mainly urine and sunscreen residues.
- Officials say the standing nature of the Alte Donau and current low water levels concentrate nutrients and increase the chance of explosive algal growth that can suffocate life.
- To reduce concentrations and keep bathing acceptable, the city has been pumping fresh water from the Neue Donau and is continuously monitoring water quality.
- Several readers reported stomach and bowel problems after swimming; health officials are watching these anecdotal reports but have not declared a confirmed outbreak.
- Authorities urged immediate behavior changes from bathers, including using toilets before entering and avoiding applying sunscreen right before swimming, and noted similar severe algal events occurred in the 1990s.