Coastal bathing water quality and climate change - A new information and simulation system for new challenges

Because of climate change, the risk of river floods is supposed to increase in future. Higher discharge causes an increased transport velocity in the river flow. At the same time, run-off from city surfaces and agricultural land along the river can cause increased E. coli concentrations in all surface waters. As a consequence E. coli and especially Enterococci are transported far into the lagoon and high concentrations can cause bathing water quality problems even on distant beaches. Especially heavy lasting rain in the river basin together with local rain events are a serious threat for bathing water quality in the lagoon and will very likely require a closing of beaches for swimming. Similar to other coastal waters, a wide range of other potentially human pathogenic micro-organisms might create a threat for the lagoon in future.