Lakes in Brandenburg for Swimming: Identifying the safe spots and regions to avoid for aquatic recreation
Bathing Waters in Baden-Württemberg: Current Conditions and Restrictions
Baden-Württemberg, Germany, is home to 311 regularly monitored bathing waters. However, a consolidated current quality rating for all these waters is not directly available.
Some individual sites, such as Strandbad Konstanz, have been reported as very clean as of late July 2025. The water temperatures at bathing waters like Heilbronn's Neckar River are warm and suitable for swimming, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 23°C (68°F to 74°F).
For exact, up-to-date bathing water quality classifications (e.g., excellent, good, sufficient, poor) for all monitored waters, official Baden-Württemberg environmental agency publications or European Environment Agency datasets would be the authoritative sources.
The Baden-Württemberg bathing water map, published by the State Health Office, provides information about the water quality of all these bathing waters. This map is continuously updated and can be found on the internet.
However, it's important to note that heavy rainfall can cause germs or pollutants to be washed in, according to the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Health. Swimming in rivers is strongly advised against due to potential microbiological contamination and lack of monitoring.
In particular, the Neumühlsee in Waldenburg (Hohenlohe district) has a general warning of strong blue-green algae development. Areas with visible streaks in the Neumühlsee should be avoided, and children and toddlers are particularly at risk due to blue-green algae in the Neumühlsee.
Currently, there are restrictions on two lakes in Baden-Württemberg: Sunthauser See in Bad Dürrheim and Metzisweilerweiher in Bad Wurzach. The Sunthauser See has been closed to bathers since 2021 due to increased microbiological contamination of the lake. The Metzisweilerweiher is still marked red on the map due to "microbiological anomalies."
A reassessment of the situation at Metzisweilerweiher will be carried out in spring 2026, taking into account the data from the 2025 bathing season.
Bathing restrictions have been lifted for several bathing waters, including the Baggersee Kollerinsel in Bruhl and the Aileswasensee in Neckartailfingen, following new measurements. The Badesee Buch in Rainau (Ostalb district), the Baggersee Eggenstein in Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, the Badesee Hermuthausen in Ingelfingen, and the reservoir in Mulfingen (all in Hohenlohe district) only achieved sufficient quality.
Our colleagues have compiled a list of the most beautiful swimming spots in Baden-Württemberg with important information. For the latest updates and detailed information about the water quality of each bathing water, it is recommended to consult the Baden-Württemberg bathing water map or official Baden-Württemberg environmental agency publications.
- To maintain healthy living, it's crucial to consider the water quality of swimming spots, with official Baden-Württemberg environmental agency publications providing up-to-date bathing water classifications.
- For those interested in environmental science, the vulnerability of bathing waters to pollution incidents, such as microbiological contamination and blue-green algae development, should be a topic of interest.
- Adhering to the recommended fitness-and-exercise and health-and-wellness routines might include choosing suitable swimming locations, as bathing water quality fluctuations impact the nutritional requirements for maintaining an active lifestyle.
