Water quality at beaches and winter swimming spots

Others may get ill if someone with stomach flu (e.g. caused by norovirus) visits a beach. Do not visit a beach if you have symptoms of stomach flu or a cold.

Good hygiene is also important. Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser after going to the toilet. Do not change a baby’s diaper or wash their bottom in the bathing water.

Do not go swimming if you have wounds or your skin is otherwise damaged. Bacteria can enter your body through damaged skin and cause an infection. Swimming is not recommended if you have a skin infection because bacteria may spread in the water.

You can check the blue-green algae situation on the ulkoliikunta.fi website(external link, opens in a new window). If there is a lot of blue-green algae in the water, a warning is also posted on a notice board at the beach.

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) has been found in the water at all seaside beaches and at the Laaksolahti, Lippajärvi, Oittaa, Odilampi, Lamminjärvi, Storträsk and Vitträsk lakeside beaches and at the Syväjärvi beach in some summers.

Do this:

• Check the condition of the water before you go swimming.
• Do not swim in water with blue-green algae.
• Do not let small children or pets swim or play in water with blue-green algae.
• Do not drink water containing blue-green algae.
• Do not use water with blue-green algae for washing, in the sauna, or for washing dishes.

Instructions for identifying blue-green algae on the Järviwiki website (in Finnish).(external link, opens in a new window)

Information on the blue-green algae situation in Finland on the Vesi.fi website.(external link, opens in a new window)

Swimmer’s itch is caused by flatworm larvae that penetrate the swimmer’s skin causing itching and a rash. The larvae are invisible to the naked eye and die quickly on human skin. The itching usually passes in a few hours, but the rash may last for a week.

You can get swimmer’s itch in muddy, reedy waters. In Espoo, larvae causing swimmer’s itch have been found at the following beaches: Sorvalampi, Kaitalampi, Oittaa, Vitträsk Luoma, and Vitträsk Svartvik.

You can avoid swimmer’s itch by not swimming in shallow water and by thoroughly drying yourself off with a coarse towel.

The Gonyostomum semen algae is non-toxic. If there is algae in the water, your skin may feel slippery after swimming. For more sensitive individuals, the algae may cause skin redness and itching. Gonyostomum semen algae has been found in the water at the following beaches: southern Myllyjärvi, northern Myllyjärvi, Sorvalampi, Luukki camping ground, and Syväjärvi. After swimming, rinse your skin with clean water and dry yourself off thoroughly to prevent skin irritation.

If you suspect that bathing water has caused illness or health hazards, you can submit a notification through the Ilppa service(external link, opens in a new window) (available in Finnish and Swedish).

You can also contact the bathing water monitoring team of Espoo Region Environmental Health Services: uimavesivalvonta@espoo.fi

In case of an emergency, inform a lifeguard or call the emergency number 112.

Espoo Region Environmental Health Services monitors the quality of bathing waters, and you do not need to inform us of algae observations. You can check the current blue-green algae situation at Espoo’s beaches on the ulkoliikunta.fi website(external link, opens in a new window).