No Swimming AdvisoryBeach water should be clean and safe for recreational users – unfortunately this is not always the case. To prevent health risks to beach users, beach advisories are posted on beaches that have poor water quality.  These advisories warn users that the level of E. coli bacteria in the beach water is elevated and not safe to swim in.

How Do The Beach Advisories Work?

Beaches are monitored and sampled on a regular basis throughout the summer months to ensure the water is safe for swimming.  When E. coli levels are higher than the allowable limits, signs are posted to warn of possible health risks and whether or not swimming is permitted.  The signs are posted in prominent locations along the beach or shoreline.

A beach may also be posted because of floating debris, oils, scum, excessive weed (algae) growth, bad odours, cloudy or murky water and heavy wave action.

In Ontario, the Medical Officer of Health for the Health Unit in your area decides when a beach should be posted based on the water quality results. Once a beach has been posted for elevated E. coli levels, more frequent water samples are taken by the Health Unit. Beaches are usually re-opened after the E. coli decreases to acceptable levels.  

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In Québec, each summer, the Ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs invites beach operators to participate in the Environnement-Plage Program. The Ministère provides a water quality testing service for beach water through the regional offices of the Centre de contrôle environnemental. Test results are forwarded to the beach operators, municipalities, the Directions de santé publique of the Agence de la santé et des services sociaux, and the media. The beach operators assume the costs of laboratory testing. It should be emphasized that they are responsible for the quality of the swimming water at the beach or beaches that they manage.

On the basis of E.coli levels, ratings of A (excellent), B (good), C (acceptable) or D (polluted) are given to participating beaches. The test results will be published on the Ministère's website, which is up-dated whenever new results are received.

Upon receiving results from the Ministère, the beach operator posts an official notice at the swimming site, corresponding to the rating received. In the case of a D rating, the Ministère will notify the operator of the beach concerned, and the municipality responsible (as stated in section 83 of the Environment Quality Act) to prohibit swimming, until the water is safe. The Ministère will also issues a press release announcing the closure of the beach, and will notify the Directions de santé publique of the Agence de la santé et des services sociaux

The ban on swimming remains in effect for as long as sampling results fail to indicate a water quality rating of A, B or C.

Click here to learn more about Beach Water Quality Advisories in Québec

What are the Risks of Swimming in Poor Quality Waters?

Possible health risks of swimming in poor quality waters are:

• Microbiological contamination: e.g. untreated or poorly treated sewage can cause a number of diseases. The most common are gastrointestinal illnesses such as diarrhoea, upper respiratory tract, eye, ear, nose or throat infections, and skin ailments.
• Chemical pollutants may also pose health risks but exposure to disease-causing micro-organisms from untreated or poorly treated sewage is a greater risk.

How Is Beach Water Quality Measured?

The number of Escherichia coli or E. coli bacteria in a water sample is currently the main indicator used to assess human health risks associated with the use of recreational water.

E. coli is bacteria present in the droppings of virtually all warm-blooded animals and are the indicator bacteria for fecal contamination of surface waters.

Health Canada has a national standard of > 200 E. coli/100 ml of water, as an indicator of an unhealthy level of E. coli.  In Ontario, the recreational water quality guideline of 100 E. coli per 100 ml of water is set jointly by the provincial Ministries of Environment and Health.