Visitors to the Burfelt and Rommwiss beaches on the Upper Sûre Lake are now barred from swimming, fishing, or letting their pets drink from the water following the discovery of cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, on 10 August.
The alert was confirmed by the Water Management Administration. These algae return nearly every summer in Luxembourg, and some species can release toxins hazardous to humans, aquatic life, pets, and livestock.
Authorities have imposed an immediate ban on swimming and related activities at Burfelt and Rommwiss to protect public health. Exposure to the toxins via contact, ingestion, or inhalation can cause a range of symptoms, including headaches, skin irritation or burns, and nausea.
Anyone experiencing health issues after swimming should consult their doctor and mention possible contact with toxic cyanobacteria.
The Water Management Administration recommends extra caution for all bodies of water where significant blue-green algae blooms have been observed. Anglers, in particular, are urged to comply with these new safety measures.
Suspected sightings of blue-green algae anywhere in Luxembourg can be reported using the Bloomin’Algae app. Reports are reviewed by an expert from the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), and all alerts are published on cyanowatch.lu.
Swimming remains permitted at other Upper Sûre Lake beaches, including Fuussefeld, Insenborn, Liefrange, and Lultzhausen. However, as a precautionary measure, these beaches are now on pre-alert due to the risk of further algae growth.
The latest updates on swimming site closures and openings are available on the Water Management Administration’s website: www.waasser.lu.
