On July 8, Minsk /BELTA/. Swimming is prohibited in 24 public recreation areas in Belarus. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Republican Centre for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health. In the Brest region, the list of unsuitable for swimming waters includes the Shchara River (Darevo village, Lyakhovichy district), the Vedma River (in Lyakhovichy), recreation areas on the Chakva River (Rubel village, Stolin district), near the lake of the agro-town of Khmelevo (Zhabinka district), near the Zhaber reservoir (Drogichin district), and the beaches of the "Nadzeya" and "Bug" sanatoriums in Zhabinka district. Recreation areas on seven lakes in the Polotsk district of the Vitebsk region are closed for swimming – these are Gomel, Yanovo, Suya, Lesnoye, Skobroye, Shkolnoye, and Shchaty. In addition, swimming is prohibited in the Shchetinka quarry (Orsha and Orsha district) and in the Dnieper River within the city of Orsha. The list of unsafe water bodies in the Gomel region has expanded. In particular, it includes areas on the Dnieper River (Zhlobin), near Lake Svyatoye (Roghachev district), and the beach on the Iput River (Dobrush town, Dobrush district). The water area of the Pripyat River in the recreation zone of the "Sosny" sanatorium (Mozyr district) and the water area of the recreation zone on the left bank of the Pripyat River (from the motor bridge to the Merlyavitsa River channel) are prohibited for swimming. In the Mogilev region, epidemiologists prohibit swimming in the Dolzhanka River (Dolgoye village, Klichev district) and in the lake near Ovsyanka village (Gorki district). In the Grodno region, the list of unsuitable for swimming waters includes Lake Kan-Beloye (Ozyory village, Grodno district). The suitability of water bodies for cultural and domestic use is determined by their compliance with the requirements and standards set out in the sanitary norms, rules and hygienic standards "Hygienic requirements for the maintenance and operation of water bodies when used for recreational purposes", approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Health. The SanPiN establishes a standard for the content of coliform bacteria in water bodies, compliance with which ensures safe swimming. Water should not contain disease pathogens or viable helminth eggs. The surface of the water body should not have floating film, mineral oil spots, or accumulations of other impurities. In addition, the water should not have unusual odours, and the content of chemical substances should not exceed the maximum permissible concentrations.