Ottawa beaches have closed multiple times throughout the summer due to the presence of bacteria, with one east end beach closed for a third of the time.
Petrie East Bay saw elevated levels of E. coli on many days between June 15 and Aug. 25, according to data from Ottawa Public Health (OPH). The city operates both the north and east facing beaches on Petrie Island.
The data shows the east beach was closed for 26 days out of the 72 days the public health agency tests the water.
OPH tests the water daily at all four public beaches for E. coli, advising closures if the bacteria is greater than 200 E. coli per 100ml of water. Petrie East Bay’s levels reached as high as 852 on July 24, for an average of 178.2 E. coli over the testing period.
“When concentrations are above these values, there is an increased risk of getting infected and sick while swimming or playing in the water,” the Government of Canada website reads.
Other Ottawa beaches also closed periodically throughout the summer due to the bacteria.
About 25 per cent of the days this summer, OPH closed Mooney’s Bay Beach. E. coli levels reached 1,000 on Aug. 10, data shows.
For 11 days out of 72 possible testing days, Petrie Island’s north facing beach, called Petrie River, closed.
Britannia Beach closed for nine days this summer, about 12.5 per cent of the time.
Only one day this summer did all four of Ottawa’s beaches close due to high levels of bacteria, which happened Aug. 11.
“When elevated levels of E. coli are detected in the water, it is used as an indication that it may be more likely that other disease-causing organisms are also present,” OPH said. “These organisms can result in skin, ear, throat or gastro-intestinal illnesses.”
The health agency says that many factors impact water quality, but upstream pollution, rainfall, water temperature, wind and wave influences and wildlife activity can be just some of the causes.