Zonhoven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Heidestrand swimming pond in Zonhoven reopened after being closed since 2019 due to E. coli from bird droppings. Tests by the Lummen lab and the Flemish Health Service now show safe water.
AS VRT News reported, the swimming pond at Heidestrand campsite in Zonhoven is open again. It had an issue with the water, so people were unable to swim for some time. The pond is for campers who only stay at the park. The water is tested often to make sure it is clean. A lab in Lummen and the Flemish health service checks it.
The tests were always good before. But one test was bad not long ago. It was the first bad result for this pond. The campsite did not say why the water was bad. They mentioned that it might be from bacteria or algae. That can make the water unsafe. New tests show the water is good again, so people can swim now.
What made Heidestrand pond in Zonhoven safe to swim in again?
The park’s managers said that keeping guests safe and happy is their main goal. They will keep working with health officials and the lab in Lummen to do regular tests. He mentioned that this quick fix means the Heidestrand Park is still a safe place for water fun.
The swimming pond at Heidestrand Park has been closed since 2019 because of worries about the water quality, even though it wasn’t officially ordered. The park’s managers decided to close it based on what health officials said, especially to protect children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems.
The water was unsafe since it had pretty high levels of E. coli bacteria. E. coli can infect humans and cause other human health problems. The E. coli was traced to droppings left by a few ducks and geese living close to the pond that contaminated the water.
The park worked to improve the water after closing the swimming pond by reducing the number of birds and improving the pond’s balance. These actions helped reduce waste and clean the water naturally.
Recently, the Department of Health in Flanders had a check on the water again, and it was much better and received an “excellent” rating. As a result, the park has opened the swimming pond again, and it now meets safety standards.
