No-Swimming AdvisoryWhy does the beach have a no-swimming advisory? Why does the beach have a no-swimming advisory?When a no-swimming advisory has been issued, it may ruin your plans to enjoy a hot summer day on one of Ottawa’s beaches. But the advisory is due to poor water quality that could pose risks to your health. For the three swimming areas along the Ottawa River portion of Petrie Island, a new predictive water-quality tool is being piloted that incorporates the previous days’ rainfall and bacteria counts to forecast the current bacteria level. Starting in 2009, the East Bay Beach at Petrie Island will be treated as a separate swimming area and the water quality will be assessed separately from the other three Petrie Island River Beaches. What are the health risks of going into the water?No swimming advisories are issued because the water contains levels of bacteria that may increase a swimmer’s risk of developing skin, eye, ear, nose and throat infections and gastrointestinal illnesses. Guidelines for issuing no swimming advisoriesEvery day during the beach season, Ottawa Public Health samples water from Britannia, Westboro, Mooney’s Bay and Petrie Island beaches and tests them for the presence of E.coli bacteria. When elevated levels of E.coli are detected in the water, it is likely that other organisms – which can also pose a risk to your health – are likely present. The City of Ottawa’s Medical Officer of Health has the authority to issue a no-swimming advisory if bacteria levels are over 200 E.coli per 100 mL of water tested, or if they are over 100 E.coli per 100 mL of water tested for two or more consecutive days. A 24-hour no-swimming advisory is issued for Westboro Beach after a rainfall of 5 mm or more. A no-swimming rainfall rule is also in place at Petrie Island Beach. Less often, a beach may be closed because of floating debris, oils, scum, excessive weed (algae) growth, bad odours, and murky water. What’s polluting our beaches?The City of Ottawa sits in three watersheds: the Rideau River (central and south), Mississippi River (west and southwest) and South Nation River (east and southeast) watersheds. A watershed is the land area feeding a river, including all the related lakes and streams. Protecting our watersheds requires support from communities all across Eastern Ontario. What happens in one part of the watershed affects other communities, especially those downstream. For example, pollution escaping into the Rideau River system at Manotick can make its way to Mooney’s Bay. Because the entire watershed affects beaches, water quality can never be guaranteed. Here are some of the factors that can pollute beaches:
What is the City of Ottawa doing to improve beach water quality?Since the installation of water circulation pumps and overhead wiring, the water quality at Mooney’s Bay Beach has improved. Overhead wiring was installed at Britannia Beach in 2002. The City will monitor and evaluate on an ongoing basis the impact of the overhead wiring on wildlife and water quality. Enjoy Ottawa’s beachesDaily updates on water quality at the beaches are available by calling the City at 3-11 or 613-580-6744, ext. 13219. For further information regarding beach water quality contact the City’s Environment & Health Protection Division at 613-580-6744. |
CON035167