Health unit officials will be keeping a close eye on Rotary Beach in Haliburton village this summer as annual beach water monitoring starts up across the Highlands, Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County.
Kicking off June 16, the program will see inspectors from the local unit work with Public Health Ontario staff to monitor and test water quality at 54 public beaches – including 19 in Haliburton County. Samples are tested for bacteria such as E. coli, which can cause severe illness.
Bernie Mayer, manager of health protection with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit (HKPR), said Rotary Beach was one of the few problem areas found in the County during last year’s testing.
“There was a problem at Rotary Beach – by the end of the season, we actually got some pretty high counts there,” Mayer said, though results weren’t concerning enough to trigger a warning or closure.
All beach locations are tested weekly and, based on results, are assigned one of three risk levels – low-risk (green), which is safe for swimming; moderate-risk (yellow), where swimming is not recommended; or highrisk (red), where it’s closed off to the public. Results are posted online at hkpr.on.ca/BeachCheck.
Mayer said swimming in contaminated water can expose people to harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause gastrointestinal illness, skin rashes, eye or ear infections, and other health issues. Beaches can be contaminated by wildlife, stormwater runoff, or sewage leaks.
“Regular testing allows us to identify potential risks early and keep the public informed so they can enjoy the beach with confidence,” he said.
At least five samples are collected from different points of each beach, with each one tested for the number of bacteria per 100 millilitres of water. This allows the health unit to consider any outliers before announcing an average result for that beach. Results are typically available within 24 hours and posted online immediately.
While E. coli can lead to issues with blue-green algae, a hot-button topic in Haliburton County, Mayer said the health unit does not test potential blooms. He recommended anyone who suspects a bloom may be forming on their lake to contact the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
There were no beach closures in Haliburton County last year, Mayer noted.
“Generally, the beaches up there are quite good. There are some beaches where, because we have a long-standing history of exceptional water quality, we only sample once per month – most of those are located in Haliburton County,” he said.
Mayer encouraged anyone planning a beach outing to first check the health unit’s digital map to make sure it’s in good condition. A recent HKPR survey revealed 69 per cent of beachgoers did not check water quality results before swimming.
