Beach Chairs - Golden Lake, OttawaWhile our beach waters should be safe and free from harmful contaminants, not surprisingly, the same problems that can threaten our drinking water can also threaten beach water quality. Beach activities such as swimming, windsurfing and wading bring us in direct contact with water, and when beach water quality is contaminated, this contact can pose a risk to our health.

Petrie Island BeachWhat Are The Concerns With Beach Water?

Beach water is not pristine and its quality can fluctuate due to contamination from numerous sources, e.g. sewage, storm water, agricultural runoff, faulty septic tanks, the atmosphere and bacteria from pet and wildlife waste. All of these sources of contamination can accumulate and result in too many nutrients in the water, which can encourage eutrophication and the growth of toxic blooms. To make matters worse, beach water quality is typically poorer in the summer when warm weather escalates bacterial growth, and swimmers stir up any pollutants that have settled at the lake bottom. 

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.