Monitoring of bathing water quality
The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) is responsible for monitoring consumer safety.
Sampling results
The latest sampling results are also available on the beaches’ notice boards.
The bathing waters of large beaches are classified based on the Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci levels in the samples taken during the last four bathing seasons. Bathing waters are classified into four quality categories: excellent, good, sufficient and poor. The quality rating is updated annually.
In 2021, the bathing water at the beaches of Kuusijärvi and Vetokannas was classified as excellent.
A bathing water profile has been developed for the beaches of Kuusijärvi and Vetokannas in accordance with the legislation concerning bathing waters. Among other things, bathing water profiles present the issues which could jeopardize the quality of bathing water and thus affect the health of bathers. The notices board at the beaches have a summary of the bathing water profiles.
Water quality is good when E. coli is less than 1000 mpn/100 ml and enterococci less than 400 cfu/100 ml.
| DATE | O C | E. COLI | ENTEROCOCCI | BLUE-GREEN ALGAE | QUALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28/6 | 24.1 | 62 | 7 | no | good |
| 15/6 | 20.3 | 10 | <1 | no | good |
| 1/6 | 14.3 | 10 | 16 | no | good |
| PVM | O C | E. COLI | ENTEROCOCCI | BLUE-GREEN ALGAE | QUALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/7 | 25 | yes | |||
| 28/6 | 52 | 13 | no | good | |
| 22/6 | 18.9 | yes | |||
| 16/6 | 19.2 | 20 | 8 | no | good |
| 1/6 | 15.8 | 10 | 2 | no | good |
| PVM | O C | E. COLI | ENTEROCOCCI | BLUE-GREEN ALGAE | QUALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28/6 | 23.2 | 9 | 3 | no | good |
| 15/6 | 19.3 | 0 | <1 | no | good |
| 1/6 | 15.8 | 4 | 0 | no | good |
Bathing sites along the Keravanjoki river
| PVM | O C | E. COLI | ENTEROCOCCI | BLUE-GREEN ALGAE | QUALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28/6 | 21.5 | 650 | 500 | no | poor |
| 22/6 | 15.7 | 42 | 150 | no | good |
| 15/6 | 17.3 | 89 | 550 | no | poor |
| 1/6 | 11.7 | 140 | 160 | no | good |
| PVM | O C | E. COLI | ENTEROCOCCI | BLUE-GREEN ALGAE | QUALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28/6 | 21.5 | 71 | 330 | no | good |
| 22/6 | 29 | 220 | no | good | |
| 15/6 | 17.3 | 150 | 520 | no | poor |
| 1/6 | 11.5 | 130 | 130 | no | good |
| PVM | O C | E. COLI | ENTEROCOCCI | BLUE-GREEN ALGAE | QUALITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28/6 | 21.5 | 46 | 220 | no | good |
| 22/6 | 40 | 420 | no | poor | |
| 16/6 | 16.6 | 120 | 630 | no | poor |
| 1/6 | 12.6 | 440 | 210 | no | good |
Only the beaches of Kuusijärvi and Vetokannas have a winter swimming place. Water samples are taken from these winter swimming places twice in the autumn and spring.
| DATE | O C | E. COLI | ENTEROCOCCI | QUALITY* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26/4 | 5.0 | <1 | <1 | good |
| 9/2 | 0.0 | 9 | 3 | good |
| 10/12 | 1.7 | <1 | <1 | good |
|
27/10 |
6.1 | <1 | <1 | good |
*) Water quality is good when E. coli is less than 1000 mpn/100 ml and enterococci less than 400 cfu/100 ml.
| Date | O C | E. COLI | ENTEROCOCCI | QUALITY* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29/4 | 3.1 | 1 | <1 | good |
| 9/2 | 0.7 | <1 | <1 | good |
| 10/12 | 1.5 | 3 | <1 | good |
| 27/10 | 1.5 | 3 | <1 | good |
*) Water quality is good when E. coli is less than 1000 mpn/100 ml and enterococci less than 400 cfu/100 ml.
Real-time water temperatures, which are updated every few minutes, can be viewed on the web page: FVH UiRaS.
Water quality
The assessment of bathing water quality is based on the monitoring the levels of intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli in the water. Bathing water contaminated with faecal bacteria and blue-green algae can harm the health of bathers, causing nausea as well as stomach and skin symptoms.
Water quality is considered good when the sampled water meets the following requirements:
- Escherichia coli: less than 1000 cfu/100 ml
- Intestinal enterococci: less than 400 cfu/100 ml
If the sample exceeds the critical limit, an additional sample is taken, and the cause and potential health hazard is assessed. If necessary, the health protection authority may instruct the beach operator to take corrective action and prohibit bathing at the beach. If blue-green algae are found at the beach, a notice must be displayed at the beach to inform beachgoers about the health hazard and to provide instructions.
The frequency of water sampling
Water samples are collected from the beaches of Vantaa every two weeks between June and August. The first samples are taken two weeks before the start of the bathing season. The bathing season runs from mid-June to the end of August. From winter swimming places, water samples are taken twice in the autumn and spring.
In Vantaa, water quality at bathing sites is usually good. However, heavy rain and the presence of wildlife, among other things, may reduce the water quality. The water samples only indicate the current situation, and especially river water quality may vary due to streams and heavy rainfall. Rainwater can significantly affect water quality if the surface runoff carries a high pollutant load to the bathing waters.
Bathing water quality at the bathing sites along Keravanjoki river is occasionally poor
In previous years, elevated intestinal bacteria levels have been found in the bathing water samples collected in connection with heavy rainfall from the bathing sites along the Keravanjoki river. Therefore, the Environment Centre recommends avoiding swimming after heavy rains at the beaches of Havukoski, Matari and Nikinmäki.
Blue-green algae and swimmer’s itch
The presence of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, is monitored with organoleptic checks. Blue-green algae can be observed from spring to late autumn, but the most blue-green algae occur in the middle and end of summer. Their occurrence is affected by, among other things, the level of nutrients in the water and water temperature.
Blue-green algae can be seen in the water as small sticks and pieces, a greenish colour in the water, green stripes on the shore, or it can even resemble thick paint or pea soup. The amount and appearance of blue-green algae may change quickly, even during the same day, depending on the wind and temperature.
Some blue-green algae are toxic. Blue-green algae should always be treated with the presumption that they may be harmful to health. Toxic blue-green algae can produce nerve and liver toxins. Sensitivity to symptoms caused by blue-green algae varies greatly. Blue-green algae can cause irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract as well as fever and stomach symptoms.
You should not enter or swim in waters that have large amounts of blue-green algae. Even if there aren’t many algae blooms in the water, you should be cautious and take a shower after swimming. Don’t allow small children to enter the water to prevent them from swallowing water containing algae.
Learn more about blue-green algae
Swimmer's itch appears after swimming as itchy skin and raised papules. The strong itching disappears in a few hours, but the papules can last up to a week. Swimmer's itch is caused by the larvae of trematode worms. It is a harmless but uncomfortable condition. The larvae die within a few hours as they cannot stay alive in humans.
Careful showering immediately after swimming and drying the skin with a coarse cloth will help remove any larvae that may cause a swimmer’s itch.
Based on the information provided by local residents, the City of Vantaa will place a warning regarding swimmer’s itch at the beach. No separate water sampling is carried out to detect swimmer’s itch.
More information on swimmer’s itch
Suggestions and comments on the beach list
The public has the opportunity to make proposals and comments on the beach list. Proposals related to the public beaches of Vantaa should be submitted in writing to the Vantaa Environment Centre.
- Kuusijärvi beach, Kuusijärventie 3, 01260 Vantaa
- Vetokannas beach, Vantaanlaaksontie 3, 01670 Vantaa
- Leppäkorpi outdoor swimming pool, Kontiotie 1, 01450 Vantaa
Bathing sites along the Keravanjoki river:
- Tapionranta, Havukoski, Tapiontie 39, 01420 Vantaa
- Matari, Joukontie 48, 01400 Vantaa
- Nikinmäki, Kimalaisenranta, 01490 Vantaa
The circles in different colours indicate whether swimming is allowed (blue), not recommended (orange) or prohibited (red).