Fantastic bathing water quality in the Donau-Ries: Everything for perfect bathing pleasure!

Fantastic bathing water quality in the Donau-Ries: Everything for perfect bathing pleasure!

This midsummer, bathers in the Donau-Ries can sit back and relax because the bathing water quality is excellent. How Donau-Ries Current reported, all three bathing lakes have received the highest quality level “Excellent” since June 11, 2025. And that's not all: in the first week of June, twelve other bathing waters in the region were sampled without any complaints.

Regular monitoring of water bodies has been an integral part of bathing area management since 2008. Every year the water quality, hygiene and safety are checked to ensure that it remains a carefree experience for swimmers. On average, a swimmer swallows around 50 milliliters of water while swimming; for non-swimmers it is around 30 milliliters. Children, on the other hand, tend to consume significantly more water, which means that special attention is paid to water quality.

Safe bathing pleasure at a glance

The numbers speak for themselves: In the 2024 bathing season, 2,291 bathing waters were examined across Germany and 13,207 water samples were taken Federal Environment Agency holds on. Fortunately, 98 percent of the bathing waters met the quality requirements of the EU Bathing Water Directive and almost 91 percent can proudly boast an “excellent” grade. Only nine water bodies had to settle for “poor” and a total of 148 bathing water bodies were closed temporarily or for the entire season, often due to algae invaders or weather-related contamination.

The water quality in Germany has been steadily improved over the past decades through targeted measures. Environmental protection and sustainability are high on the authorities’ agenda. Investments in sewage treatment plants and the maintenance of wastewater networks play a central role.

European comparison and outlook

A look beyond the borders shows that the water quality in the rest of Europe has also remained consistent in recent years. According to that European environmental association In 2024, it was found in the EU that over 85% of bathing waters at almost 22,000 locations were of the highest quality. This positive development is the result of systematic monitoring and targeted management measures. With 1.5% of bathing areas affected by poor quality, Germany proved to be a pioneer in the sustainable use of water resources.

So the positive news remains: you can sit back and relax when you jump into the cool water. The bathing season is assured, the water quality is first-class, and everything is ready for carefree bathing fun! Whether in one of the lakes or on the coast - the best quality refreshment awaits all swimmers and water lovers.