Severe rainfall over the weekend has led to a red flag being issued at Rebæk Strand in Kolding, Denmark, indicating that swimming is strongly discouraged. The beach’s status as unsuitable for bathing was updated on Monday morning on the website badevand.dk, which translates to “bathing water.”

According to Merete Velbak, the head of the environmental department in Kolding Municipality (Kolding Kommune), there is heightened attention regarding bacteria levels in bathing water following heavy rainfall. This precautionary measure is being taken to ensure the health and safety of citizens, as the mixing of wastewater with rainwater can result in high concentrations of bacteria.

This is not the first time this summer that bathing water quality has deteriorated due to heavy precipitation. Back in July, similar weather conditions led to poor bathing water quality at several locations across the country, including beaches near Copenhagen and Aarhus. This trend highlights the ongoing need for continuous monitoring and prompt responses to protect beachgoers along Denmark’s coasts.