The quality of the water is good on the coastal beaches

Perched from a pontoon. For example, with water to the knees, it watches over the water of the coastal beaches. Furthermore, Sanela Omerovic. Meanwhile, water controller in the service of consumption and veterinary affairs of the canton of Neuchâtel, goes on tour every two weeks, like this Monday morning. Meanwhile, Slipped into his cooler, a small jar of water is waiting to join the Scav laboratory to be analyzed there. Similarly, It is a question of measuring the concentration of feces, rejected in wastewater. In addition, “These bacteria serve a marker to get an idea of the quality of the water” of swimming. Therefore, “says Yann Berger, the Cantonal Chemist Neuchâtel. “If wastewater is poured into the lake. children, who tend to drink the cup often, will ingest them and can then suffer from intestinal, diarrhea and vomiting disorders. »»

“The quality of the water is good for excellent”

Once analyzed. the quality of the water is completed on a card available online. Right now, “the quality of the water is good to excellent on almost all the beaches”, reassures Yann Berger. However. he notes that after long periods of rain or storm episodes, a small temporary degradation can be observed in the quality of bathing water. But this temporary prudence to observe is without common measure with the situation of a few decades ago: “In the 1960s. it was strongly not recommended to bathe in the water of the lake. All wastewater found themselves there, ”recalls Yann Berger. “There has been since an excellent improvement that has been continuing with the entry into service of new increasingly effective treatment plants. ” added the cantonal chemist.

Despite these advances. the lake sites located quality water good coastal beaches near a STEP are systematically designated by a “D”, the worst note delivered by the SCAV. “These are places where there are rates of much higher fecal bacteria,” says Yann Berger. The mouths of the Seyon and the Areuse are also concerned.

Bathers called to stay vigilant

If SCAV analyzes provide the quality of bathing water. the service advises swimmers to remain attentive to other visual signs when pricing a head. “We often talk about cyanobacteria, they can appear very quickly and then disappear again …”, warns Yann Berger. The cantonal chemist still calls for vigilance: “If we observe bizarre things floating, it is better to avoid swimming. A reserve is also issued for duck lice, which are not followed by SCAV analyzes. /jti