Planning for safe swimming in 2019

Posted: Monday, October 15, 2018
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Plan for safe swimming in 2019 - Visit your local public health websites and social media channels.


Visit local public health websites, social media channels in 2018-2019 for info on recreational beach water quality

Warm weather in October of 2018 meant that some people were swimming in Lake Huron even in October. As the weather has cooled, the days for swimming are disappearing likely until the return of warmer weather in the new year.

As you plan your time on Lake Huron in 2019, don’t forget to visit your local public health unit websites and sign up now for their social media feeds to find out about safe swimming practices to be ready when the warm weather returns.

Local public health is an important partner in the Healthy Lake Huron – Clean  Water, Clean Beaches partnership. 

In some cases, local beaches may be posted if health units believe there may be a risk to the public when the levels of E. coli exceed (or are predicted to exceed) the federal guidelines and provincial standard (200 E. coli per 100 mL of beach water) for recreation.

Other factors, such as environmental conditions, may also cause beaches to be posted. However, even though local public health agencies conduct monitoring and testing on a number of public beaches, swimming and recreational conditions can change quickly. It’s important to know about recent weather events and to follow best practices.

Health units can’t monitor all beaches and they can’t do it all the time or monitor for all pollutants – also, they don’t test other bodies of water such as creeks and streams, rivers, ravines, gullies, and dams. Residents should be aware these areas could be unsafe for swimming.

When beaches are monitored they are usually monitored for Escherichia coli levels only. There may be other harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or pathogens in the water.

Sources of E. coli may include, among other things, animals and waterfowl, malfunctioning sewage disposal systems, and stormwater runoff carrying chemicals and excess nutrients into creeks, rivers, and the lake. The number of E. coli can be influenced by rainfall, turbidity (water clarity), air and water temperature, as well as the features of the coastline.

The return of warm swimming days may be a few months away – but it’s never too early to follow your local public health channels for information on beaches and water quality – and other local public health issues.

Here’s how to find out more:

Online:

Here are some of the local public health websites with information on water quality and safe swimming:

For more beach safety tips go to The Canadian Red Cross:

On Twitter:

To follow Huron; Lambton; or Grey-Bruce local public health Twitter feeds you may visit here:

On Facebook:

You may also ‘like’ the Huron; Lambton; or Grey-Bruce public health Facebook pages here:

In Bruce and Grey Counties:

Recreational water use is popular in Grey and Bruce counties.  These activities can deliver important benefits to health and well-being. Yet, there is the possibility of injury or illness resulting from recreational use if the water is polluted or unsafe. Human illness and infection can be caused by organisms (bacteria, viruses and parasites) that may be present in pools; spas and hot tubs; and natural bodies of water.

Beaches in Grey and Bruce County have a history of being safe. However, water quality can change from day to day or even hour to hour depending on the weather and other conditions. High bacteria levels usually occur due to weather-related events. The health unit encourages beachgoers to make an informed decision about beach water quality in real time before you go swimming. “You are the best judge of whether the water is safe to swim!”

Grey-Bruce Health Unit provides these four questions to guide beachgoers in their decisions:

QUESTION:
Is the beach posted with a warning sign? 
ANSWER:
If you answered yes – Do not swim.

QUESTION:
Has there been a heavy rainfall in the last 24 to 48 hours? 
ANSWER:
If so, bacteria levels may be higher. In that case, Do not swim.

QUESTION:
Can you see your feet at adult-waist depth? 
ANSWER:
If you can’t see your feet at adult-waist depth, cloudy water can mean that bacterial levels may be higher. In that case, Do not swim.

QUESTION:
Are there any other problems with the beach such as a large number of waterfowl, dead fish, algae and/or scum, or dangerous debris, etc. 
ANSWER:
If you answered ‘Yes’ to any one of the four examples of beach problems in question above - you should not swim. The water may have high levels of bacteria that could increase the risk of skin, eye, ear, nose and throat infections or gastrointestinal illness.

Also – the health unit reminds you to avoid swallowing beach water no matter how clear the water looks!

In Huron County:

The quality of Lake Huron water can change dramatically day to day, hour to hour, or even minute to minute with either heavy rainfall, high wave action, or both. The Huron County Health Unit encourages recreational users of Lake Huron to read the signs to reduce health risks.

The beach water sampling program has ended for the 2018 season. Please visit the website and follow Huron County public health on Twitter @huronbeachinfo during the 2019 season.

There are a number of initiatives underway in Huron County to improve water quality at the beaches and throughout the watershed. One of those projects involves monitoring stormwater outfalls at the Bayfield Main Beach. This project is organized by the Bluewater Beach Committee whose members include Pioneer Park, Municipality of Bluewater, Ausable Bayfield Conservation, and Huron County Health Unit. The most recent water test results can be found on the Bayfield Beach Stormwater Monitoring web page.  

Reports from previous years can be found on the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority Water Quality web page:

To learn more visit: 

In Lambton County:

During the summer, Lambton County beaches provide tourists and local residents with a relaxing place to swim and play recreational sports. To ensure water is safe for swimming, Lambton Public Health tests and monitors seven public beaches from the beginning of June to the end of August for levels of E. coli bacteria.

There is also information for boaters, beachgoers, and other water enthusiasts here:

To learn more visit: