Vaasa’s beaches met water quality requirements in the final sampling of the summer

The water at all tested beaches met the required quality standards. The water temperatures ranged between 19 and 21 degrees Celsius.

According to the quality requirements set by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the level of intestinal enterococci in coastal bathing waters must be below 200 CFU/100 ml, and the level of Escherichia coli must be below 500 MPN/100 ml. Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, must not be detected by visual inspection in the bathing water or at the beach.

Cleaning and the Goose Patrol help tackle problems caused by barnacle geese

Large numbers of barnacle geese gather at Hietasaari and Kustaanlinna beaches, resulting in a build-up of goose droppings on the beaches. The beaches are cleaned daily, but the constant presence of geese makes it difficult to keep them clean.

In addition to cleaning, the problems are being addressed by the Goose Patrol, consisting of four German Shepherds that are trained to safely drive the geese away from the beaches. The dogs do not bark at or chase the geese. Instead, they calmly approach the geese and guide them away from the beaches. The aim is to reduce the presence of geese at the beaches and thereby help keep the beaches clean and pleasant.

Bathing water quality is monitored throughout the summer

In Vaasa and Laihia, the water quality of 11 beaches is monitored during the bathing season from 15 June to 31 August 2026.

You can report bathing water quality issues via the Environmental Health Service’s online reporting service at https://ilppa.fi/kuluttajan-ilmoitukset (available in Finnish and Swedish). Submit an online report if

• you notice anything unusual in the bathing water, such as an abnormal colour or smell, or the presence of blue-green algae;
• you become ill or experience any other reaction that you suspect may have been caused by the bathing water.