Don't swim in the lake, says Luxembourg Ministry

(JB) Bathers are being discouraged from swimming in Luxembourg's Upper Sûre Lake because of an outbreak of algae.

Algal blooms formed at the popular swimming spot in recent days, the environment department of Luxembourg's Infrastructure Ministry said in a press statement.

Staff at the LIST Research Centre analysed the water to determine the composition of the algae. Its analysts found three species of potentially toxic producing algae.

As a result of the findings, the ministry said the ban on bathing in the lake remained.

"People should not bathe in the lake, nor should they let their dogs or other pets drink water from the lake or eat fish from the lake," the ministry said in a statement published end of Wednesday.

People who suffer health problems after bathing in the lake are urged to consult their GP.

The lake is used as a reservoir for drinking water in some parts of Luxembourg. The ministry said, however, tap water in the vicinity was safe for human consumption because of the treatment of toxins at the water treatment plant.

As a general reminder, the ministry said in a statement that the annual bathing season would end on September 1, 2016.