Belgrade Swimming Water Quality: What Tests Show
The Belgrade Institute of Public Health released new results from the city's bathing spots: Sava Lake rated second class, the Danube at Lido third, and every checked pool meeting standards.
What is in the water where Belgrade swims? The latest tests from the Belgrade Institute of Public Health show that water at Sava Lake is second class quality, the water at Lido beach in Zemun is third class, and every pool the institute monitors meets the required standards.
That is the first read on conditions in the middle of this heatwave. High temperatures and low water levels favor the growth of microorganisms and algae, so the institute has stepped up testing for this stretch of the season.
How Often Is the Water Sampled?
At Sava Lake, samples are taken at four locations twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. That schedule runs from June through mid September.
The Danube at Lido is monitored from the moment the pontoon bridge goes up until the end of the swimming season. Water at open air public pools is sampled once a week.
Lab testing covers physical, chemical and microbiological parameters, with additional analysis when needed. The results feed into an expert opinion, and if corrective measures are called for, the institute recommends them to the relevant authorities.
Which Pools Are Being Monitored
The institute tracks water quality at these open air pools:
- Banjica in Vozdovac
- Olimp in Zvezdara
- Kosutnjak
- April 11 in New Belgrade
- the sports center pools in Lazarevac, Obrenovac and Mladenovac
For these, the finding is unambiguous.
“As far as the pools go, all the pools we monitor are compliant, meaning all the water samples meet the required standards,” said Dr. Nevena Paunovic of the Belgrade Institute of Public Health.
What Happens If You Swallow the Water
This is where the gap between a managed and an unmanaged swimming spot matters most. Dr. Paunovic described what typically follows.
“If contaminated water is swallowed, it can cause stomach problems, as well as ear infections, skin infections and other conditions, depending on the type and degree of contamination.”
The risk is not the same everywhere. In many parts of Serbia, municipal and industrial wastewater still flows into rivers, and when water levels drop, the concentration of pollutants rises.
Five Steps Before You Go Swimming
- Pick a managed public beach, one where the water is monitored and lifeguards are on duty.
- Avoid spots with low water levels and murky water, since cloudiness can point to higher contamination.
- If you do end up in unmonitored water, do not put your head under and do not swallow it.
- Shower as soon as you get out, whether you were in a river or a lake.
- Skip the pool if you have an acute respiratory, urinary or digestive illness, or a skin condition. The institute recommends waiting at least two weeks after symptoms clear.
These recommendations are aimed mainly at children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses and anyone with a weakened immune system, since infections progress faster in these groups.
What Has Changed Since the Season Began
The swimming season at Ada Ciganlija started on June 20. Results up to that point showed Sava Lake water meeting all legal criteria for surface water used for swimming and recreation.
This week’s finding is useful information, not a reason to panic. The class is tracked precisely so trends can be seen, and the next round of sampling at the lake is already set for Monday and Thursday. Those two days remain the only testing schedule through mid September.
At the pools, part of the job falls to visitors too. Foot baths at the entrance, showering before going in and after coming out, using the toilet, and wearing a cap and goggles all help keep the water within the range the tests later confirm. Avoiding diving, jumping and lingering on wet surfaces around the pool also cuts the risk of injury.
Our advice is simple. Choose a monitored beach over an unmanaged riverbank whenever you can, and even then, do not swallow the water.
