Kallan Environmental Health monitors the quality of bathing water at Jakobstad’s public beaches. Water quality is monitored throughout the bathing season until 31 August 2026. Samples are taken three times during the season at smaller public beaches and four times at larger EU-designated beaches. In Jakobstad, samples are collected from the beaches at Kittholmen and Karhusaari, as well as from the Fäboda area beaches of Isohiekka, Pikkuhiekka, and Fäboda Café Beach.

The most recent samples from Jakobstad’s bathing beaches were taken on 13 July, and no blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) or other factors harmful to health were detected. Swimming at Jakobstad’s public beaches is therefore currently considered safe.

However, conditions such as blue-green algae blooms can change very quickly. Updates will be published on the Kallan Environmental Health website and communicated at the beaches through posted notices.

If you suspect the presence of blue-green algae at a beach, you can perform a simple stick test. If the algae mass breaks apart into small flakes when touched with a stick, it is most likely cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). If the algae instead remains hanging from the stick, it is likely something other than cyanobacteria.

Take precautions when there are heavy cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms:

• Do not swim in water containing large amounts of cyanobacteria.
• Do not allow children or pets to enter the beach area if there is a heavy cyanobacteria bloom in the water.
• Do not swallow water containing algae.
• Do not use algae-contaminated water for sauna water or washing.
• Do not use algae-contaminated water for drinking, irrigation, or food preparation (the toxins are not destroyed by boiling the water).