Swimming is not recommended at all four of Ottawa’s lifeguarded beaches on July 11 due to higher concentration of bacteria.
According to Ottawa Public Health (OPH), which tests the water daily from June 15 to Aug. 25, bacteria from the “excessive” rain this week has elevated E. coli risk and does not meet provincial bacteria standards.
“When elevated levels of E. coli are detected in the water, it is more likely that other disease-causing organisms are also present,” the public health agency’s website notes. “These organisms can result in skin, ear, throat or gastro-intestinal illnesses.”
Britannia Beach had the lowest E. coli count at 31, whereas Mooney’s Bay Beach had the highest at 570.
In Ottawa’s east end, Petrie East Bay had 247 E. coli counted and Petrie River had 58.
It takes up to 18 hours for the tests to process, which is why OPH advises swimmers based on water samples from the previous day.
Over the first two weeks in July, there were more days for people encourages to swim than not recommended, according to the test dashboard.
Of the four beaches, Petrie East Bay had the most days (four) that OPH did not recommend going into the water.