What is the bathing water quality in Switzerland?
Virtually all rivers and lakes in Switzerland are safe to swim in, in terms of water quality. Thanks to various protective measures and major advances in wastewater treatment in recent decades, the water in Swiss rivers and lakes is now very clean.
Bathing water quality is an indicator of the state of water in rivers and lakes. Microbiological testing is used to assess whether there is a health risk from bathing water. For example, water that is contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms can lead to stomach problems and diarrhoea.
Assessment of bathing water quality is carried out on the basis of cantonal water monitoring data relating to the hygienic parameters E. coli and intestinal enterococci (faecal bacteria). The EEA classification system applies to the quality assessment according to the EU Bathing Water Directive of 2006.The EEA classification can only be calculated on the basis of a series of measurements of at least four bathing seasons, with four samples per season.
Link to the map: map.geo.admin.ch