The once popular natural lake in Wedderbergen has not been on the list of recommended bathing waters for three summers. But the village council of Wedde is doing its best to make the lake accessible to bathers again.
A summer day in the Wedderbergen nature and recreation area. In the olden days, swimmers would have been floundering in the large natural lake in that area. On the beach men, women and children would sunbathe or play.
But it is eerily quiet on the beach and the water is an even plain, devoid of human life. This image is not only from this summer, it was like that on many days in the previous two summers.
More than three years ago, the province of Groningen removed the lake from the list of bathing waters. This is because too many bacteria from human and animal faeces have been found in the water for some time. The water quality was affected to such an extent that the province regularly put up signs on the beach advising against swimming. This happened so often that it was finally decided to ‘delete’ the puddle altogether.
Traffic jams on the approach roads
For decades, the Wedderplas was probably the most popular bathing water in East Groningen. On warm days it was more than crowded. From all over the region and from further afield, we are writing the 1970s and 1980s, families came to the lake to swim and relax. Traffic jams on the approach roads were the result.
Busy back from yesteryear
But now everything is different. Geert Dekker thinks that is a shame. He is a member of the village council of Wedde, the village near the lake. He would like to see the hustle and bustle of yesteryear back. “That is good for the quality of life, and also good for entrepreneurs in our village, because the swimming guests also come here. We have put our wish on the table with the municipal administrators of Westerwolde.”
They would also welcome it if you could swim in the lake again, says alderman Harm-Jan Kuper. “Research has shown that the bacteria must come from goose and dog faeces. Reducing goose poop is difficult, but we are trying to get less bacteria from dog poop in the water.”
According to Kuper, dog owners have therefore been called upon in the village magazine to stop letting their animals defecate on the beach. ,, Officials who walk around in the area also approach dog owners who walk their animals. In this way we hope to improve the water quality and eventually get the lake back on the list of bathing waters.”
Dredging is too expensive
Kuper says complete dredging of the lake has also been studied as a possible option. With that it would be ‘cleaned up’ in one go. “But that is way too expensive. A connection with the Westerwoldse Aa has also been considered, but there are also disadvantages. So let’s try it this way first.”
Geert Dekker hopes that the attempt will succeed. “I think that not only poop, but also a lot of fish food and stagnant water are causes of the poor water quality.”
Back to this summer day, to the silence at the puddle and the sign that says dogs are not allowed to poop there. The silence is broken by a hiker who appears to know this area very well. Erik Middel (59) lives in Wedde and has been swimming here for decades. “To be honest, I still do,” he admits. ,,In recent summers and also now, despite the fact that the puddle has been removed from the list. After all, there is no question of a swimming ban.”
He sometimes swims alone, often with a group of friends. “And I’ve never had any problems. I make sure that I don’t get buckets of water in my mouth, but I already did that anyway. So I don’t care about the lesser water quality. But of course I would also like it if the hustle and bustle of the past returns here.”
New highway
The lake in Wedderbergen was dug more than half a century ago. The current provincial road between Blijham and Vlagtwedde was then built and sand was needed for that. This was taken from the Wedderbergen area, which thus acquired a new recreational and touristic function.