Sampling Public Beach Water
Each year, we take samples of local beaches from June until the end of August to make sure the water is safe for people to swim in. Most beaches are sampled monthly, and few (beaches with a history of adverse sample results) are sampled weekly.
Samples go to the Public Health Ontario Laboratory in Sudbury and Orillia to be tested for Escherichia coli (commonly known as E. coli), a sign that the water has been contaminated with fecal matter. It takes about 24 hours for us to receive and analyze the water quality results from the lab.
See below to learn about the status of your local public beach.
When is a Beach “Posted”?
If the level of E. coli in a sample set is more than 200 E. coli cfu/100mL, the beach will be re-sampled within 24 hours.
If the level of E. coli in the re-sample set is more than 200 E. coli cfu/100mL, the water is considered unsafe for recreational use, including swimming.
When a beach is unsafe, the “Unsafe for Swimming” sign (see below) will be posted to let beach visitors know about the high bacterial counts and potential threat to human health.
The sign is taken down when re-samples show levels of E. coli have returned to acceptable levels.
Between sampling periods, the beach water may have unsafe levels of bacteria due to:
- Heavy rainfall (the Rainfall Warning sign, below, is posted at all public beaches)
- Large numbers of waterfowl
- High winds or wave activity
- Large numbers of swimmers
When is a Beach “Closed”?
A beach is “closed” when a significant risk to human health and safety has been identified, such as signs of something in the water that could cause a hazard or infection.
Swimming in the water is NOT allowed when a beach is closed, and there will be little or no public access to the beach. A ‘Do Not Swim’ sign (see below) will be posted at the beach.
The beach is re-opened when there is no longer a risk to human health and safety.
Beach Status
The beach water quality testing has ended for the season, should you have any questions, please call us at 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808.
Beach | Location | Last Tested | Monitoring | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bell Lake Beach |
18 Bell Lake Rd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Big Moose Beach |
60 Big Moose Rd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Birchaven Cove |
465 Lakeside Dr, |
August 29 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Callander Bay Beach |
833 Main St S, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Callander Centennial Park Beach |
Main St N, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Champlain Park Beach |
1202 Premier Rd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Community Centre Beach |
701 Hwy 124, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Doe Lake Beach |
Off Birch Crt, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Doe Lake Municipal Park Beach |
1014 Ferguson Rd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Dunchurch Beach |
Across 21 Church St, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Elks Lodge Park Beach |
1200 Hwy 17 E, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Eva Wardlaw Park Beach |
458 Lakeshore Dr, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Fitzgerald Beach |
2 West Carling Bay Rd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Foley Matheson Park & Beach |
125 Rankin Lake Rd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Lions Park Beach |
91 Main St, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Magnetawan Centennial Park Beach |
Off Highway 520, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Maple Key Park & Beach |
14 Maple Key Park Rd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Mattawa Beach |
Between 4/5 St, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
McManus Beach |
Lakeview Dr Rd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Nobel Beach Park |
66 Big Sound, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Olmsted Beach |
60 Lakeside Dr, |
August 29 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Perry Clear Lake Beach |
188 Churchill Gardens Rd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Rosseau Waterfront Park |
2 Jim Swift Dr, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Shabogesic Beach |
117 Memorial Dr, |
August 29 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
South Lake Bernard Beach |
Next to 722 South Lake Bernard Rd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Sturgeon Falls Beach |
End of Main St W, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Sunset Park Beach |
50 Sunset Blvd, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Waubuno Beach |
End of Prospect St, |
the week of |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Not Tested = For various reasons, such as a harmful algae bloom is present, high water levels and/or debris are in the area.
For more information, please contact our Environmental Health Program at 1-800-563-2808, extension 5400 or by email at environmental.health@healthunit.ca.
Adapted with permission from Peterborough Public Health.