Chaos on the banks of the Wupper: Illegal swimming endangers the natural paradise!

Chaos on the banks of the Wupper: Illegal swimming endangers the natural paradise!

On the banks of the Wupper in Solingen, the conditions for swimming and recreation have changed dramatically in recent years. Residents and conservationists are alarmed because a bathing spot that is now considered illegal has been established, which not only spoils the enjoyment of the water, but also causes serious environmental damage. That's how it reports Solinger Tageblatt that children and young people in particular splash around in the water while picnic blankets with food and drinks spread over the bank.

“It used to be a few swimmers with a guilty conscience, but today there are up to 100 bathers at the same time,” complains local resident Claudia, who has been observing changes for years. Unauthorized bathing, despite clearly posted prohibition signs, not only results in an increase in garbage and noise pollution, but also damages the 400-year-old natural stone weir, which was recently renovated. Climbing on the rocks causes further damage and threatens habitat for endangered fish and even kingfishers.

Controls and appeals

The city of Solingen has announced sporadic controls, but these are rather rare due to capacity reasons. The spokeswoman for the city of Leichlingen confirms that there were some checks last weekend. Future considerations are to intensify controls and better inform bathers about the problem.

But in addition to the problems on the banks of the Wupper, other bodies of water in the region also have to contend with health risks. In the last few days, swimming in the Bevertalsperre has been completely banned due to heavy blue-green algae formation WDR reported. These dangerous bacteria are favored by prolonged heat and low water levels and can cause serious health problems such as skin irritation, nausea and allergic reactions.

The dangers of blue-green algae

Blue-green algae, which are actually cyanobacteria, are found in lakes and rivers and thrive in warm conditions. What is particularly worrying is that they can produce toxic substances in large quantities. Health authorities therefore issue appropriate warnings and recommend only swimming at officially controlled swimming areas. This situation also has an impact on other bodies of water in the area, as the health authorities are currently carrying out controls, but only in official bathing areas.

In the middle of summer, when temperatures rise and the outdoor swimming season reaches its peak, it is even more important to pay attention to water quality. Signs such as greenish colors or rare visibility can indicate mass proliferation - and thus dangers that go far beyond a simple ban on swimming NDR determines. People with weak immune systems, small children and pregnant women are particularly at risk.

The situation on the banks of the Wupper and the new cases of blue-green algae at the dams call everyone to reason. Using natural resources responsibly and observing bathing bans are not only required by law, but are also essential for your own health and protecting the environment.