Six different beaches in the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark area have high concentrations of E. coli bacteria this week.
That’s according to the latest results from the Health Unit’s summer water monitoring program.
The program tests water samples from local beaches every week for E. coli, which can give swimmers ear, eye and throat infections when they’re exposed to a lot of it.
This week, Merrickville Beach and Kendrick’s Park Beach in the township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands were designated “unsafe for swimming” by the organization.
Four other beaches in Lanark County were also designated as unsafe, in areas like Mississippi Mills, Smiths Falls and Carleton Place.
Signs have been posted at all the beaches warning visitors not to swim in them, and they’ve been added to a list of unsafe beaches on the Health Unit’s website.
Test results are posted to the Health Unit’s website and social media pages every Friday.