Beach Water: Testing for Bacteria
Are
Our Beaches Safe for Swimming?
The Health Protection Department of the Renfrew County and District Health
Unit conducts testing and inspection activities to determine the quality of
beach water.
Public Health Inspectors collect water samples from municipally owned and
operated beaches weekly from June to September.
Other beaches with public access may also be tested where the Medical Officer
of Health believes swimming may result in illness.
A
minimum of 5 samples are collected each time along the length of the beach.
Samples
Are:
Collected weekly and analyzed at the Local Public Health Laboratories.
Tested for E. Coli bacteria, an indicator of sewage contamination.
High
Levels of Bacteria …
…
in recreation water may cause skin irritation, eye, ear and throat infections,
or intestinal illness.
Contamination
of beach water can be caused by:
When
the geometric mean (like an average) of 5 separate samples is greater than 100
E.coli per 100ml of water, Health Inspectors "post" the beach as
unsafe for swimming.
Posting
Means...
The Medical Officer of Health Recommends that people avoid swimming due to
high levels of bacteria.
A
sign is placed at the beach to warn bathers that the water is polluted and
unhealthy for swimming. This sign remains posted until further tests show that
the water is safe for recreational use.
For
more information contact a Public Health Inspector:
MAIN
OFFICE:
7
International Drive
Pembroke,
Ontario
K8A
6W5
(613)735-8654
fax
(613) 735-3067
BRANCH
OFFICES:
346
John St. N.
Arnprior,
Ontario
K7S
2P6
(613)
623-2991
fax
(613) 623-8939
149
Dunn St.
Barry’s
Bay, Ontario
K0J
1B0
(613)
756-2744
fax
(613) 756-5248
180
Plaunt St. S.
Renfrew,
Ontario
K7V
1M8
(613)
432-5853
fax
(613) 432-3382
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