Czech Republic bans swimming at several sites due to cyanobacteria

Local authorities in the Ostrožská Nová Ves area, part of Uherské Hradiště district, have reiterated a ban on swimming in the gravel lakes that serve as a drinking‑water source. The municipal water‑rights office stresses that the restriction protects water quality for the region’s residents and directs recreation to the designated natural pool Albatros.

The Czech Ministry of Health has issued similar prohibitions across the country after testing revealed high levels of cyanobacterial blooms. Bans apply to the Džbán reservoir in Prague, three swimming locations in the Vysočina region (Trnávka – Městská pláž, Červená Řečice and Petračka), and several other reservoirs and ponds, including Orlík, Máchovo jezero, and sites in the Karlovarský, Plzeňský and Královéhradecký regions. Officials warn that rapid weather changes can worsen water conditions and advise showering after any contact, especially for children, pregnant women and people with weakened immunity.