Recreation in non-swimming water

As summers become warmer, swimmers and recreational users are increasingly turning to urban surface waters that are not officially designated as bathing sites. While general water quality has improved in many areas over recent decades, it can still deteriorate significantly at certain times and locations. This is often linked to overflows from combined sewers during heavy rainfall, while upstream misconnections can also negatively impact water quality.

We conduct research and provide guidance on the use of real-time monitoring to assess the quality of informal bathing and recreational waters. These measurements can support the development of alert systems that warn the public when water quality is insufficient. Additionally, we assist in creating strategies to inform the public about the safety of using recreational waters.