La Semois À Vresse-Sur-Semois

Belgium River 2 - Good

The Semois bathing zone at Vresse-sur-Semois is a designated bathing area located in the Meuse International Hydrographic District at an altitude of 230 metres. The bathing beach spans 90 metres in length with an average water width of 40 metres and depths ranging from 0.10 to 1.2 metres. The riverbed is characterised by a homogeneous composition of pebbles, gravel, and rocks. The zone has demonstrated excellent water quality since 2014, with only two non-conformity declarations since 2001 (in 2007 and 2012).

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Water

River (Semois). Average width: 40 metres. Minimum depth: 0.10 metre. Maximum depth: 1.2 metres. Beach length: 90 metres. Riverbed composition: pebbles, gravel, and rocks.

Location

Vresse-sur-Semois in the Semois sub-basin. The zone is situated within the Meuse International Hydrographic District and encompasses water bodies SC33R (Gros Fays Stream), SC34R (Rebais Stream), SC35R (Rux stream at the Mill), and SC37R (Semois IV).

Water Quality

Excellent water quality since 2014. Non-conformity declarations occurred only twice since 2001 (2007 and 2012). Main contamination sources identified include: Laforêt wastewater treatment plant discharge (900 metres upstream), non-compliant camping treatment plant discharge (2.5 kilometres upstream), village discharge points (Chairière, Gros Fays), Mouzaive autonomous zone discharges, and Alle-sur-Semois treatment plant discharge (5.6 kilometres upstream). Bacterial contamination (E. coli and intestinal enterococci) shows strong correlation with river discharge rates and rainfall events exceeding 10 millimetres within 48 hours preceding testing.

Risks

Rainfall exceeding 10 millimetres within 48 hours prior to testing causes water quality degradation. Primary contamination sources include untreated or non-compliant wastewater discharges from upstream treatment plants, villages, and tourism facilities. Intense precipitation events (such as 25 August 2015) result in bacterial contamination extending more than 20 kilometres upstream of the designated bathing zone.