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Cyanobacteria blooms are most pronounced during the summer months, which coincides with the bathing season in Europe, and the highest demand for recreational water. Mass blooms of cyanobacteria can affect the amenity value of recreational waters due to reduced transparency, discoloured water and scum formation. Furthermore, bloom degradation can be accompanied by an unpleasant smell (WHO, 2003). Information available from European countries indicates issues with cyanobacteria blooms in Central European inland bathing waters in Czechia, Germany and Poland, but also in other countries. Although cyanobacteria are not subject to quantitative monitoring prescribed by the BWD, the blooms frequently create the need for temporary advice against, or prohibition of, bathing. Each year, hundreds of bathing water sites are affected by cyanobacteria blooms that decrease water quality and can affect the health of bathers (EEA, 2018). Bathing in water affected by cyanobacteria can result in headaches, nausea, diarrhoea, pneumonia, vomiting, fever and other health issues.
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It would be of great value if member states were given recommended models and established methods for detection dealing with the proliferation of cyanobacteria.
Since cyanobacteria are not subject to quantitative monitoring prescribed by the BWD, such models, methods for detection and guideline values are not given in the Directive itself. More information regarding Algae and cyanobacteria are however provided in WHO's Guidelines for safe recreational water environments available at: <a href="https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/42591/9241545801.pdf;jsessionid=725ADFCE6E24079084A5B75A9C12013A?sequence=1" rel="nofollow">https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/42591/9241545801.pdf;jsessionid=725ADFCE6E24079084A5B75A9C12013A?sequence=1</a>