Beach water quality monitoring begins for 2022

Point Edward, ON - Lambton Public Health will begin the 2022 beach water quality monitoring program on Monday, May 30 at public beaches scheduled for monitoring across Lambton County.

Predictive beach-water sampling and water sample analysis will be used to determine if beaches are safe to access. A beach’s status will be indicated in one of two ways:

• Posted - warning sign displayed. Unsafe for swimming as high levels of bacteria in the waters may pose a risk to your health.
• Not posted - caution sign displayed. No water quality issues but continue to monitor for changes. Cloudy water caused by high wave activity and heavy rainfall may contain high levels of bacteria.

Predictive beach model monitoring will be used at five of Lambton's public beaches and monitored daily, while water sampling and testing will be conducted weekly at two additional locations. Monitoring continues until September 2, 2022.

"The predictive beach model monitoring system provides a more accurate representation of water quality and allows us to relay this information to the public sooner," said Jessica Zehnal, Health Protection Supervisor with Lambton Public Health.

Lambton County beachgoers will be able to access water quality status reports in three different ways:

• Text the word Beach to 226-909-3003
• Call Beach InfoLine 519-383-3816, toll-free 1-800-667-1839 ext. 3816
• Website LambtonPublicHealth.ca

Beaches monitored daily (Monday-Friday) using predictive models include:

• Grand Bend (North Beach)
• Grand Bend (South Beach)
• Ipperwash Main Beach
• Bright's Grove (including Mike Weir Park)
• Canatara Park

Beaches monitored weekly (water sampling with lab analysis) include:

• Pinery Provincial Park
• C.J. McEwen Beach

No sampling occurs along the St. Clair River; however, a caution sign, advising of high bacteria levels following heavy rainfall, has been permanently placed at:

• Branton Cundick Park
• Brander Park
• Seager Park

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Please contact:

LPH Media Inquiries

Related resources:

Inspection reports for beach water quality
https://reports.lambtonpublichealth.ca/BeachWaterQuality/Map 

Beach water quality monitoring program in Lambton
https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/public-reports/disclaimer/#beaches

Protect yourself and prevent the spread of germs
https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/2019-novel-coronavirus/protect-yourself/