Bathing water quality

The official bathing season in Latvia starts on 15 May, ending on 15 September. Environmental health specialists of the Health Inspectorate shall regularly perform monitoring of the quality of bathing water in sea and inland bathing areas. The bathing water quality indicators shall be evaluated by a specialist after receiving laboratory examinations and shall provide a conclusion on water quality – bathing is permitted, swimming is not recommended or bathing is prohibited. The bathing site owner shall be informed of the results of the examinations, as well as, through mass media and the public.

To know:

• about "The itching of swimmers"
• Information on water temperature is available on the website of the “Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre”.

When monitoring the quality of bathing water in sea and inland bathing areas, the water quality shall be tested both laboratory (microbiological) and visual assessment of the bathing site, with particular attention to the following:

• atypical water colour
• surface active substances (persistent foam)
• bathing and other waste in water
• petroleum products
• mass proliferation of phytoplankton algae (blue algae or algae) - water blooms.

Water sample container is disinfected The water sample shall be taken 30 centimetres below the surface of the water at least one metre depth Water temperature display Mark of a sample of water shall be made on the bottle in indelible ink Transfer the water sample to a sterile, transparent and colourless bottle Water sample container and thermometer A sample of water shall be stored in a cold bag until arrival to the laboratory The water sample shall be stored at approximately 4 degrees Celsius Water sampling protocol is filled in The protocol shall also contain information on visual observations performed at the bathing site.

Overview of bathing water quality in 2020

Overview of bathing water quality in 2019

Report on bathing water quality in 2018

Review of bathing water quality in 2017

Overview of bathing water quality in 2016

Overview of bathing water quality in 2015

Overview of bathing water quality in 2014

Bathing water quality review 2013

Overview of bathing water quality in 2012

Bathing water quality review 2011

Overview of bathing water quality in 2010

Overview of bathing water quality in 2009

Overview of bathing water quality 2008

Overview of bathing water quality in 2007

Archive of the results of bathing water monitoring - the data of bathing water monitoring carried out in recent years on the website of the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET).