General Information

Why monitor public beaches?

Beaches are monitored to determine pollution levels in the water in order to prevent illness in bathers (swimmers). Swimming in unsafe water could cause ear, nose and throat infections, conjunctivitis (eye infections), or gastrointestinal illness. Beaches are also monitored for safety hazards, which could cause bather injury.

What is a public beach?

A public beach is defined as a beach owned and/or operated by a municipality which:

• the general public has direct access to;
• allows supervised aquatics programs or is staffed by lifeguards, and;
• meets the requirements of the sampling protocol for sampling sites.

Reference: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Beach Management Guidance Document, March 2010

What is a Blue Flag beach?

Four beaches in Grey and Bruce Counties hold the Blue Flag designation: Sauble Beach (South Bruce Peninsula); Station Park (Kincardine); Little River Park (Blue Mountains) and Northwinds (Blue Mountains). For more information on Blue Flag visit www.blueflag.ca.

What are those yellow signs for at the beach?

An educational program was implemented in 2004 with the use of permanent yellow warning signs. The sign reads:

“Water Quality Information: Cloudy Water Caused by High Wave Action and Rainfall Increases Bacterial Levels in this Bathing Water; Caution: Do Not Swim for 24 Hours after Heavy Rain Falls.”

The yellow cautionary sign signify a relationship between heavy rainfall and high winds with increased counts of E. coli. While samples are submitted on a weekly basis, conditions can change at anytime depending on factors, such as weather and wildlife. These signs give the swimmer the opportunity to assess the current conditions and make an informed decision on his or her use of the beach.

What are environmental surveys?

An environmental survey of a beach area is a site investigation where observations are made to identify environmental factors that may influence recreational water quality.

Reference: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Beach Management Guidance Document, March 2010

How are sampling sites selected?

The location of beach sampling sites should be representative of the complete beach area. A minimum of 5 sampling sites per beach are necessary; large beaches have additional sampling sites.

How often are the beaches sampled?

Samples are obtained on a weekly basis.

How are the beach samples taken?

Water samples are obtained using beach sampling bottles provided by a public health laboratory of the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP). The samples are usually taken within the swimming area; every attempt is made to take the sample approximately 15 cm to 30 cm below the surface in about 1 m to 1.5 m depth of water. The sample bottle is sealed immediately and remains sealed until received by the provincial laboratory for analysis.

What is the water sample analyzed for?

The provincial laboratory analyzes each sample for the number of E. coli bacteria present per 100 mL of water. E. coli is used as the indicator bacteria because it is an indicator of fecal pollution. A geometric mean is calculated to reduce the biasing effect of a single high sample; although a single high reading will still be investigated.

When are beaches posted?

Posting of a beach occurs by placing signs to inform the public about potential risks to the health and safety based on an assessment of those risks. Posting signs are displayed in prominent positions at the beach to warn bathers of the danger. The signs will normally remain posted at the beach until surveillance of water quality demonstrates that the risk to bathers is once again within acceptable limits.

For more information regarding the monitoring of public bathing beaches please contact Public Health at 376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456.