Public beach monitoring
KFL&A Public Health monitors the water quality at municipally owned and operated public bathing beaches within our area. Monitoring occurs for 12 weeks, between early June and Labour Day and involves testing the water for bacteria as well as conducting a visual inspection of the beach.
Beach testing and monitoring is conducted in accordance with the Ontario Public Health Standards.
KFL&A public beaches are sampled weekly. Public beaches in Central and North Frontenac are sampled monthly due to their history of good water quality. If sample results come back adverse, the public beach is sampled daily until results consistently meet the public health standards to ensure that the water quality has improved.
Signs warning against swimming are posted when beach conditions pose a potential health risk to bathers. Most often the posting of a beach is due to high levels of bacteria in the water.
Before entering the water look for posted warning signs and consider the following:
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Has there been heavy rain in the last 24 to 48 hours?
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If yes, bacterial levels will be higher, and swimming is not recommended.
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Is the water cloudy?
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If you can't see your feet at adult's waist depth, bacterial levels may be higher, and swimming is not recommended.
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Are there any other problems with the beach?
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Large numbers of waterfowl, dead fish, algae or scum, dangerous debris, or public health warnings or postings indicate an increased health risk.
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The following beaches are monitored by KFL&A Public Health, results are updated daily from June to Labour Day:
| Beach | Status |
| Big Clear Lake | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Crow Lake | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Eagle Lake | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Kennebec Lake | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Long Lake | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Sharbot Lake | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Beach | Status |
| Breakwater Park Beach |
Sampling has ended for the season |
| Gord Edgar Downie Pier | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Grass Creek | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Lake Ontario Park - Boat Launch Beach |
Sampling has ended for the season |
| Lake Ontario Park - Cobble Beach |
Sampling has ended for the season |
| Reddendale Crerar |
Sampling has ended for the season |
| Richardson's Beach | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Beach | Status |
| Big Sandy Bay | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Beach | Status |
| Bath Filtration and Centennial Beach | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Back Beach, Amherst Island |
Sampling has ended for the season |
| Sand Beach, Amherst Island | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Beach | Status |
| Palmerston Lake |
Sampling has ended for the season |
| Palmerston and Canonto Conservation Area | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Marble Lake | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Shabomeka Lake | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Sand Lake | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Beach | Status |
| Davidson's Beach | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Gilmour Beach | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Sydenham Lake (The Point West) | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Sydenham Lake (The Point East) | Sampling has ended for the season |
| McMullen Park Beach | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Beach | Status |
| Beaver Lake | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Neville's Point | Sampling has ended for the season |
| Centennial Park | Sampling has ended for the season |
Ask KFL&A Public Health - Beach Testing
Transcript |
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[Music] Hello my name is Martha Hodge, I am a Public Health Inspector with the Environmental Health Team and the Environmental Health Facilitator.
Text on screen: Why does Public Health test beach water? Martha: We test beach water to make sure that it is safe for swimmers. Interviewer: And how frequently do we do that? Martha: So we test either on a weekly basis or a monthly basis. Interviewer: And is it only during the summer months? Martha: Yes, it's for the seasonal months that bathers swim. Interviewer: And how do we test the water? Interviewer: What beaches do we test? Martha: So, we test all of the beaches that are accessed by the public or that are owned or operated by the municipality and we test all of those that are within our jurisdiction. Interviewer: What causes unsafe levels of bacteria in beach water? Interviewer: How do we let the public know if the beach water is not safe for swimming? Martha: So, our local municipalities do help with posting if we do have a high levels of e coli and you can also find those results online on our website and social media. Interviewer: Do you have any advice from public health on what we should do before we enjoy the beach on a hot day? Martha: So, before you head out I advise you to check our website or social media frequently or the beaches itself to see if it has been posted to make sure that it is safe to swim at. Interviewer: If a beach tests uh positive for high levels of bacteria what do you what does public health recommend? Martha: So, we do advise you to not swim or play in the water most especially children who are most likely to consume water if they do bathe in it. So, if you do see that posted at the beach or on our social media online we do advise you to stay clear until we do repost again saying that it is safe to swim. Interviewer: If a beach tests positive and it's a beach that public health only tests once a month how frequently is testing afterwards? Martha: So, if we do get results of high levels of bacteria we will test again until we get satisfactory results. |