They Swam All Summer: What Was Found in the Water at Beaches in Mykolaiv Region

Laboratory testing of water at beaches and recreational areas in Mykolaiv Oblast during the summer of 2026 found violations of hygiene standards: 3.9% of samples failed microbiological standards, while 10.9% failed chemical standards. Specialists attributed the chemical deviations mainly to the natural characteristics of the water bodies.

At the same time, no cholera vibrio was detected in any surface-water sample tested. No outbreaks of infectious diseases linked to swimming in water bodies were reported in the region during the summer.

Water sampling took place from May 12 to August 31. During this period, specialists collected 174 samples and conducted 1,044 laboratory tests. The Center’s laboratories tested microbiological and sanitary-chemical indicators, while selected samples were also tested for virological and parasitological indicators.

Monitoring covered water bodies in various communities across the region:

• the Inhul, Southern Buh and Bulboka rivers;
• the Sofiivske Reservoir;
• the Buzkyi Estuary and the Tyligul Estuary.

Samples were collected at the following swimming and recreation spots:

• Strilka Beach in Mykolaiv;
• Chaika Beach in Mykolaiv;
• the Namiv recreation area in Mykolaiv;
• Raiduha Beach in Pervomaisk;
• the municipal beaches of Yuzhnoukrainsk;
• the municipal beaches of Nova Odesa;
• the village beach in Kryve Ozero;
• a children’s swimming area at the Pelahiivskyi recreation camp in Bashtanka District;
• recreation areas along the Tyligul Estuary near Kobleve;
• recreation areas along the same estuary near Ukrainka.

Keeping the public informed about test results remains an important part of monitoring. Up-to-date information on water quality helps people heed warning signs and make informed choices about where to relax and swim.

We have also written:

• Swimming is dangerous at Chaika again: E. coli and enterococci found in the water
• E. coli found again at Strilka and Chaika beaches in Mykolaiv
• E. coli and enterococci found at Strilka, Chaika and Namiv in Mykolaiv: swimming is dangerous
• Water at beaches in Mykolaiv Oblast meets standards, but swimming is officially prohibited
• Beware of germs: microbiological water contamination detected at a beach in Mykolaiv’s Korabelnyi District