Klagenfurt beach records elevated E. coli as Sattnitz pollution worsens

Testing has found elevated levels of E. coli at Klagenfurt’s Strandbad beach, while bacterial contamination in the Sattnitz waterway has worsened, ORF reported on Saturday.

A sample taken on August 5 near the beach’s middle bridge contained 307 E. coli bacteria per 100 millilitres of Wörthersee water. The guideline value is 100. The water was still considered safe for swimming, according to Birgit Trattler, head of the city’s health department.

Trattler said guideline values were indicators that further monitoring was needed, while limit values determined when action was required. An exceedance could indicate contamination by human or animal faeces.

Water quality has been significantly worse for months in the Sattnitz, the outlet of Lake Wörthersee, which is officially called the Glanfurt. Compared with July, conditions have deteriorated in some stretches.

The latest sample from the intersection of Schrödinger Street and St. Ruprechter Street exceeded the limit for intestinal enterococci. The guideline value for E. coli was also exceeded by more than five times. Swimming there is therefore not recommended.

High concentrations of these bacteria can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, persistent urinary tract infections, blood poisoning and inflammation of the heart valves, Trattler said. People with weakened immune systems or serious chronic illnesses, as well as infants and young children, are particularly at risk.

There is still no evidence that the faecal bacteria were deliberately introduced into the water, ORF reported.