Swimming has been temporarily banned at the Donja Lastva 01 beach in Tivat, Montenegro, after water quality tests found elevated levels of bacteria that exceeded permitted limits. The warning applies to the bathing area in Donja Lastva, where authorities have raised a red flag and instructed visitors not to enter the sea until further testing confirms that the water is safe. The decision comes during the busy summer tourist season, when beaches across Montenegro are attracting large numbers of residents and visitors.
The ban followed several rounds of testing carried out in August. Regular sampling on August 18, followed by additional checks on August 21 and August 24, showed that the seawater at Donja Lastva 01 did not meet the required quality standards. Testing found elevated levels of E. coli and intestinal enterococci, bacteria that are used as indicators of possible fecal contamination in recreational water. Because the measured levels exceeded the permitted limits, the relevant authorities ordered the beach operator to display a red flag indicating that swimming is prohibited.
The restriction will remain in place until new laboratory results show that the seawater has returned to the required standards. For people visiting the Tivat area, the warning means that the affected bathing area should be avoided until authorities officially confirm that swimming can safely resume. The incident also highlights why regular monitoring of seawater quality is particularly important during the summer, when beaches are heavily used and environmental conditions can change quickly. Similar temporary swimming bans have been introduced at other Montenegrin beaches this summer when testing found that seawater did not meet required quality standards.
For now, the red flag at Donja Lastva is a clear warning to swimmers to stay out of the water at the affected location. Authorities will continue monitoring the situation through additional testing, with the ban expected to remain until the results confirm that the sea is once again suitable for swimming. The incident serves as a reminder for tourists and locals alike to pay attention to official beach warnings, particularly when red flags are raised because of water quality concerns.
