The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit has started weekly water sampling of public bathing beaches.
In Leeds and Grenville, the beaches the health unit will be monitoring weekly throughout the season until August 24th include:
- Sand Bay Charleston Lake County Park
- St. Lawrence Park
- Lyn Valley Conservation Area
- Sand Lake Park Beach
- Portland Campbell Street Beach
- Joel Stone Beach, Lower Beverley Lake Park Beach
- Kelly’s Beach
- Merrickville
- Westport Lions Beach
- Foley Mountain
- Kendrick’s Park
- Bellamy Park.
In Lanark County, the beaches the health unit will be monitoring weekly throughout the season until August 24th include:
- Almonte Beach
- Dalhousie Lake
- Centennial Beach
- Riverside Beach
- Lanark Beach
- Pakenham Beach
- Rideau Ferry Yacht Club
- Robertson Lake Beach
- Smiths Falls Junior and Senior
Beaches are monitored for E. Coli. The health unit says research has shown that water, with a high E. coli level (above the standard of 200) there is a direct relationship to increases in ear, eye, nose and throat infections in swimmers. When samples exceed 200, the beach is posted with a warning sign “unsafe for bathing” and the sign will stay until test results show the water quality meets the bathing beach water standard.
The testing results can be found on the health unit’s website here.