Huge swimming fun: Big Jump for clean rivers in Hann. Münden!

Huge swimming fun: Big Jump for clean rivers in Hann. Münden!

On July 12, 2025, the event will take place in Hann. International River Swimming Day, also known as the “Big Jump”, is taking place again in Münden. This initiative not only offers a platform for around 50 swimmers who venture on a distance of around 9 kilometers from Weserstein to Vaake (Hesse), but also sends a strong signal for water protection. The event is taking place in Hann for the twelfth time. Münden is organizing and is part of a broader commitment to raise people's awareness of the challenges facing our rivers in more than 70 cities. This year, participants take up the challenge and swim in a community event that is not about competition but about awareness of clean waters.

The event starts at 2:00 p.m. at Weserstein, the point from which the swimmers start their route. To ensure the safety of the participants, helpers from the Technical Relief Agency (THW), the German Life Saving Society (DLRG) and the German Red Cross water rescue service are available. It is important that all participants who venture into the water have safe swimming skills. However, the participation fee of 10 euros goes partly as a donation to the aid organizations and shows the social aspect of such a sporting event.

Problematic state of water

The need for such actions is underlined by the alarming water quality in Lower Saxony. According to reports, the majority of rivers, streams and floodplains in the region are classified as severely damaged - only 3% are in good condition. This is illustrated by the reports from the Heinrich Böll Foundation and BUND, which point out the problems with salt and pollutants from fertilizers and wastewater. The Werra, Fulda and Weser rivers in particular are struggling with drastic environmental pollution.

The EU guidelines call for an improvement in water quality by 2027 - a goal that, according to the Ministry for Lower Saxony, is not considered feasible. The risk that blue-green algae will multiply in waterways during the summer should not be underestimated, as they are toxic to humans and animals. These grievances illustrate how important it is to continue taking measures to develop and maintain water bodies in the future.

The role of the Lower Saxony Water Alliance

In order to achieve the ecological goals in Lower Saxony, the “Lower Saxony Water Alliance” was founded. This initiative aims to develop and implement concrete measures for natural water design. Current assessments show that about 60% of water bodies are rated as unsatisfactory or poor. The focus is on improving the hydromorphology and the continuity of the waters so that they can regenerate better.

The Water Alliance works closely with various entertainment associations and water management organizations. Even if funding is made available, the implementation of the necessary measures has fallen short of expectations. Professional “carers” are needed to advance the lengthy process of water development.

The “Big Jump” isn’t just about sport; It is an important step in raising awareness of the habitats in our rivers and shows that protecting water bodies is more urgent than ever. Every participant contributes to ensuring that we pay a little more attention to the rivers and that they are once again highly valued in our society!