In Dagestan, more than half of water samples on beaches fail to comply with safety standards

Monitoring of the condition of beach areas in Dagestan on the eve of the opening of the swimming season has shown that 12 out of 21 water samples taken by the “Rospotrebnadzor” (Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare) fail to comply with the safety standards. Almost the entire coastline in Dagestan is dangerous for swimming, since sewage discharges are spread into the sea, environmentalists note.

This year, the swimming season in Dagestan will begin on June 1, and sixteen swimming areas will be open. On the eve of the opening of the swimming season, the “Rospotrebnadzor” Department for Dagestan monitored the condition of beach areas, the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent was informed by officials.

Twenty-one samples of water were taken, of which twelve samples, or more than half, do not comply with the hygienic requirements. At the same time, in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk, all eleven samples of water taken there did not meet the standards, in the Kayakent District, one out of three samples failed to comply with the standards, and in Derbent and Izberbash, all seawater samples met the standards, the “Rospotrebnadzor” claims.

In preparation for the summer season, business entities planning to organize recreation for the population should prepare the beach area, install toilets, urns, and showers. Owners of beach areas have been issued relevant orders, the “Rospotrebnadzor” clarifies.

According to the explanation voiced by an official from the “Rospotrebnadzor”, the water on the beaches is being tested for compliance with microbiological and sanitary-chemical parameters. This year, the main violations have been identified due to excess of permissible levels of bacteria, which may be associated with sewage discharges and organic pollution, presence of harmful chemicals due to industrial waste and storm water.

Environmentalist Ramazan Aliev told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent that in Makhachkala, sewage discharges run directly into the sea because of the worn-out infrastructure and the lack of modern treatment facilities. Storm drains, especially in the Reduktorny settlement, are not treated, thus carrying garbage and chemicals to the coastal zone. Many beaches are not equipped with toilets, showers and urns, which contributes to their contamination.

“In 2024, a court ordered the ‘Makhachkalavodokanal’ Company to stop discharging untreated wastewater into the sea. However, the court’s decision was not enforced due to insufficient funding for the repair of treatment systems,” a lawyer recalled.

I do not swim in city waters for over 15 years and I don’t recommend anyone, especially children, to do so

Madina Ibragimova, an activist of the “Gorod Nash” (City is Ours) movement, told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent she was surprised that only 57% of beach areas, according to the information released by the “Rospotrebnadzor”, do not meet the safety requirements.

“I believe that almost the entire coastline in Dagestan is dangerous for swimming, since there is no water purification system even in the cities, and more so in the villages. They simply dump the sewage into the sea. The worst thing is that no one even hides that fact. Personally, I do not swim in the city for over 15 years and I don’t recommend anyone, especially children, to do so,” Madina Ibragimova stated.

Arsen, a resident of Makhachkala, told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent that all city residents are aware of the situation with beach pollution. “The water is cleaner outside the city, closer to Izberbash. It is mainly rural residents and tourists who come to swim,” the resident of Makhachkala noted.

“We do not swim at the city beach for a long time. Even without any reports from the ‘Rospotrebnadzor’ we know that the water is very dirty. Sewage is being discharged into the sea. We with our whole family sometimes go to Izberbash or Derbent, as the water there is much cleaner,” explains Murad, another resident of Makhachkala.

“I sometimes swim in the sea, but only early in the mornings, when the water is more or less clean. At other times I am afraid to swim there, because the water is dirty, and I am afraid of infections,” claims Zainab, a resident of Kaspiysk.

This was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 22, 2025 at 01:26 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.