Lake Garda Summer 2001: ADAC Water Quality Info & Regional Regulations

For the summer season of 2001, the lake sees the return of the ADAC/Sommerservice service, an initiative aimed primarily at providing German guests with accurate information about the quality of bathing waters.

Summerservice began in early June with the arrival on Lake Garda of a biologist appointed by the Institute of Hydrology in Constance, on behalf of the ADAC – the prestigious German Automobile Club with over 14 million members – to analyze the data collected, taking into account the limits established by European community regulations. This data was gathered through close collaboration with the Hygiene Offices of the Local Health Authorities, ARPAV of Verona, the Public Health Laboratory of the ASL of Brescia, the Health Authority of the Autonomous Province of Trento, as well as meteorological services of the Veneto Region, the Province of Brescia, and the Provincial Trentino Agency for Environmental Protection (Institute of Hydrology in Riva). The biologist prepared updated informational bulletins which ADAC disseminates via telephone, print media, and the Internet.

Information and Protection Services for Lake Garda

However, for those already on the lake or for Italian tourists, the Environmental and Tourist Secretariat service is operational. It provides weather information, guidance on accommodations, infrastructure, sporting, recreational activities, and cultural and entertainment events organized in different towns along the lake.

This service can be accessed by calling the Garda Community (0865 290411) or by consulting the website www.lagodigarda.it.

Initiated by the Garda Community to ensure accurate and timely information for the lake’s tourist users, it is supported by Enit, the Lombardy and Veneto Regions, and the Autonomous Province of Trento – APT of Garda Trentino.

Regulations on Bathing Waters

Finally, regarding bathing waters, it should be noted that, thanks to the involvement of the Community and Garda parliamentary representatives, a recent Decree Law allows regional authorities to derogate from the limit values for dissolved oxygen, one of the many parameters by which a beach is classified as suitable or not for bathing.