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:
What do the results mean?
| Green |
| The last water sample taken did not show harmful levels of bacteria. Due to the delay in receiving lab results weather and other factors can affect the water quality since the sample was initially taken. Refer to the list above of factors to look for and consider before entering the water. |
| Red |
| A swimming advisory is in place and swimming is not recommended. High levels of E.coli bacteria were detected in the most recent water sample results Swimming may increase your risk of developing minor skin, eye, ear, nose, or throat infections or stomach illness. If you choose to swim during a swimming advisory, avoid putting your head under water or swallowing the water. |
| Closed |
| The beach is closed. Beaches are closed when there is a significant risk to health and safety i.e., there has been a sewage or chemical spill. Beach closures are rare. |
| Sample not available |
| Occasionally results are not available for all beaches due to the sampling schedule in the region. KFL&A public beaches are sampled weekly. Public beaches in Central and North Frontenac are sampled monthly. |
| Beach | Status |
| Big Clear Lake | Green |
| Crow Lake | Green |
| Eagle Lake | Green |
| Kennebec Lake | Green |
| Long Lake | Green |
| Sharbot Lake | Green |
| Beach | Status |
| Breakwater Park Beach |
Green |
| Gord Edgar Downie Pier | Green |
| Grass Creek | Green |
| Lake Ontario Park - Boat Launch Beach |
Green |
| Lake Ontario Park - Cobble Beach |
Green |
| Reddendale Crerar |
Green |
| Richardson's Beach | Green |
| Beach | Status |
| Big Sandy Bay | Green |
| Beach | Status |
| Bath Filtration and Centennial Beach | Green |
| Back Beach, Amherst Island | Green |
| Sand Beach, Amherst Island | Green |
| Beach | Status |
| Palmerston Lake |
Green |
| Palmerston and Canonto Conservation Area | Green |
| Marble Lake | Green |
| Shabomeka Lake | Green |
| Sand Lake | Green |
| Beach | Status |
| Davidson's Beach | Green |
| Gilmour Beach | Green |
| Sydenham Lake (The Point) - Left (northwest) | Green |
| Sydenham Lake (The Point) - Right (southeast) | Green |
| McMullen Park Beach - | Green |
| Beach | Status |
| Beaver Lake | Green |
| Neville's Point | Green |
| Centennial Park | Green |
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. |