public health

The August long weekend is finally here! Time to relax and take a much-needed reprieve from the stressors of life. What better way to spend your long weekend than at one of Ontario’s many spectacular beaches. But before you pack the kids, the dog, and your floaties into the car, make sure the beach you’re headed to is open. Ontario’s public health units have issued a number of swim advisories for Ontario beaches. Here are the ones you should be aware of:

Southwestern Public Health Unit

Port Burwell

Port Burwell Beach at 9 Wilson Lane. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 28.

Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit

Clearview

New Lowell Conservation Park Beach at 2894 Hogback Road. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 20.

Collingwood

Sunset Point East Beach at 21 Saint Lawrence Street. Advisory due to sewage spill. Last tested on July 27.

Sunset Point West Beach at 60 Saint Lawrence Street. Advisory due to sewage spill. Last tested on July 27.

Gravenhurst

Muskoka Bay Park at 700 Muskoka Road 169. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 21.

Huntsville

Port Sydney Beach at 22 Muskoka Road 10. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 21.

Innisfil

9th Line Park Beach at 2407 Leonard Street. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 21.

Lake of Bays

Dwight Beach at 1153 Dwight Beach Road. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 21.

Midland

Pete Pettersen Park Beach at 159 Marina Park Avenue. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 22.

Orillia

Moose Beach/Tudhope Beach at 450 Atherley Road. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 27.

Penetanguishene

Rotary Champlain Wendat Park at 8 Owen Street. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 22.

Severn

Washago Centennial Park Beach at 3376 Quetton Street. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 21.

Tay

Magnus Park at 102 Grandview Road. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 22.

Waubaushene Beach at 12 Pine Street. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested on July 22.

Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit

Omemee

Omemee Beach at 797 Emily Park Road. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last inspected July 19.

Renfrew County and District Health Unit

Cobden

Cobden Beach at 16-26 Bonnechere Street. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria.

Chatham-Kent Health Unit

Erieau

Erieau Public Beach at 1222 Mariners Road. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested July 11.

Dover Centre

Mitchell’s Bay Beach at 3 Main Street. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested July 11.

Peterborough Public Health Unit

Douro-Dummer

Back Dam Park at 902 Rock Road. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested July 21.

Ennismore

Ennismore Waterfront Park at 1053 Ennis Road. Advisory due to high levels of bacteria. Last tested July 26.

What causes a swim advisory?

Public health units declare swim advisories when the water at recreational beaches is unsafe to swim in. This is usually due to high levels of bacteria in the water, such as E. coli, which can make you sick if ingested. The water at a beach is deemed safe if five testing samples show that there is equal to or less than 200 E. coli per 100 mL of water. Any more than that is deemed unsafe for swimming.

Who tests the water?

Each of Ontario’s public health units is responsible for testing the recreational water within its jurisdiction. Ontario’s Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks is responsible for testing waters within provincial parks. How often the water is tested varies by unit. Some test weekly while others test monthly.

What causes the water to become contaminated?

Stormwater runoff, sewer overflows, sewage treatment plant bypasses, agricultural runoff, faulty septic systems, and large populations of waterfowl all contribute to contaminating water with bacteria. Heavy rainfall and winds will also exacerbate the bacteria.

How do I know whether it’s safe to swim?

Since there are gaps between testing, beachgoers can’t always rely on lab results to tell them whether the water is safe for swimming. There are, however, a few red flags to look for when determining whether the water is contaminated. If the beach is full of waterfowl, such as geese, there’s a good chance the water may contain high levels of bacteria. Uncharacteristically murky water is another sign, as well as dead fish. And if the top of the water looks like it’s had blue or green paint spilled on it, do not go in. That’s a sign of blue-green algae, which can be deadly to pets and harmful to humans.