All swimming areas in Wallonia are once again open to the public, announced Wallonia’s Public Service Drought Expertise Unit (SPW) on Wednesday.
In early July, six swimming areas were closed due to storm-induced deterioration in water quality. Lesse in Houyet and Pont-à-Lesse, Ourthe in Hotton, Lake Neufchâteau, and Semois in Lacuisine and Chiny were rendered off-limits to swimmers.
These are now all open after the water quality tests were found to be "good". Only the Grand Large area in Péronnes displays lower water quality, graded as "acceptable", yet swimming is still permitted there. Every section accessible to kayaks is also open.
Overall, water conditions in Wallonia are positive, with river flows above average, even in non-navigable rivers, and reservoir storage capacity higher than in previous years.
Thanks to frequent early summer rainfalls, groundwater levels are holding steady, despite natural and seasonal decline. The risk of fire is low.
These conditions sharply contrast with previous years that were marked by drought periods. The summer of 2023 was particularly dry in June and July before conditions improved in August.
In 2022, numerous water usage restrictions had to be imposed due to a prolonged dry spell until the end of September.
