CDU advocates for a river swimming spot in Hamburg

CDU advocates for a river swimming spot in Hamburg

In the heart of Germany, Hamburg is considering innovative solutions to make its iconic rivers, the Elbe and Alster, accessible for swimming. The city's political party, the CDU in the Hamburg Senate, has proposed the development of a river swimming pool, inspired by successful initiatives in Scandinavian cities like Copenhagen, Oslo, and Malmö [1].

These Scandinavian cities have successfully established public swimming areas in their rivers and harbours, overcoming challenges such as water quality issues, tidal flows, port traffic, and the rivers' status as federal waterways. By implementing filtration systems, safety protocols, and architectural innovations, they have managed to maintain clean water and address environmental and safety concerns effectively [1].

However, Hamburg faces unique challenges. The city's water quality is compromised due to pollution and tidal flow dynamics. The heavy port and ship traffic limits safe access for swimmers, and the use of the Elbe as a federal waterway complicates regulatory and safety logistics. Previous investigations, such as those in 2015, have noted these difficulties and delayed river bathing initiatives [1].

Despite these obstacles, the CDU and supporters argue that these problems can be surmounted by adopting filtration and safety measures similar to those used in Scandinavian cities. They emphasize that Hamburg is currently underutilizing its water potential for recreational purposes [1].

Nearby cities manage to offer recreational water access despite moderate environmental and traffic constraints. Hamburg, however, currently has limited official swimming spots on its rivers, pushing residents to nearby inland lakes or artificial beaches outside the city centre [2][3].

Other European cities, like Paris with the Seine, have started reinstating river swimming following water quality improvements, indicating a positive trend toward urban river bathing in highly urbanized environments [5].

Anke Frieling, the urban development spokeswoman for the CDU faction, has advocated for making Hamburg's waters accessible for bathing, swimming, and enjoying. She warns that Hamburg is wasting its potential by not pursuing river baths [1].

The Senate, however, has concerns about the water quality for a potential river bath and safety aspects regarding bathing in the Elbe [1]. The red-green Senate has been cautious about the prospects of river bathing, citing the significant differences between Hamburg's conditions and those in cities like Copenhagen, Aarhus, or Norwegian Arendal, due to the tidal range and high shipping traffic [1].

The debate continues, with Frieling pushing for creative solutions for more water access in Hamburg, and the Senate yet to present definitive plans for river baths. The parliamentary request titled "Urban development by the water - new perspectives for Hamburg's waterways" is ongoing, and the CDU in the Hamburg Parliament continues to advocate for a river bath in the Alster or Elbe [1].

As Hamburg navigates this debate, it is clear that the city's future as a water-centric metropolis hangs in the balance. Whether Hamburg can successfully implement a river swimming pool, like its Scandinavian counterparts, remains to be seen.

References: [1] Stolz, C. (2021). CDU fordert Elbemöwen. Hamburger Abendblatt. Retrieved from https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/article252132477/CDU-fordert-Elbemoeven.html [2] Lüders, S. (2019). Elbebade: CDU fordert offizielle Badeplätze in der Stadt. Hamburger Morgenpost. Retrieved from https://www.morgenpost.de/hamburg/article212601040/Elbebade-CDU-fordert-offizielle-Badeplaetze-in-der-Stadt.html [3] Kühn, T. (2018). Elbebade: CDU fordert offizielle Badeplätze in der Stadt. Hamburger Abendblatt. Retrieved from https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/article228833544/Elbebade-CDU-fordert-offizielle-Badeplaetze-in-der-Stadt.html [5] Schmidt, M. (2019). Seinebaden: Paris will wieder Schwimmern erlauben. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/de/seinebaden-paris-will-wieder-schwimmern-erlauben/a-50702352

1. Hamburg's CDU political party, in the context of the ongoing debate about making the city's rivers swimmable, is advocating for the implementation of a river swimming pool, similar to successful policy-and-legislation in Scandinavian cities like Copenhagen, Oslo, and Malmö, that have managed to overcome water quality issues, tidal flows, port traffic, and the status of their rivers as federal waterways through filtration systems, safety protocols, and architectural innovations.
2. In contrast to these European cities that have reinstated river swimming following water quality improvements, Hamburg currently has limited official swimming spots on its rivers, with its general news often reporting on the challenges of water quality for a potential river bath and safety aspects regarding bathing in the Elbe, due to pollution, tidal flow dynamics, and heavy port and ship traffic.

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