LAURIE WEIR
Swimmers are being urged to stay on dry land at several public beaches across the region, as the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit has issued caution advisories due to high bacteria levels in the water.
As of July 4, six beaches have been flagged with a CAUTION notice, meaning the water is not recommended for swimming based on recent bacterial testing. The affected beaches are:
Carleton Place – Riverside
Carleton Place – Centennial
Gananoque – Joel Stone Beach
Lyndhurst – Kendrick’s Park
Prescott – Kelly’s Beach
Smiths Falls – Smiths Falls Junior Beach
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The latest bacterial test of the water indicated acceptable levels of bacteria and can be used for swimming and other recreation purposes.
Athens – Sand Bay County Park (Charleston Lake)
Brockville – St. Lawrence Park
Elizabethtown – Lyn Valley Park
Kitley – Bellamy Park
Lanark Highlands – Dalhousie Lake
Lanark Highlands – Robb’s Lake Beach
Lanark Highlands – Lanark Beach
Lanark Highlands – Robertson Lake Beach
Merrickville – Merrickville Beach
Mississippi Mills – Almonte Beach
Mississippi Mills – Pakenham Beach
North Elmsley – Rideau Ferry Yacht Club
Rideau Lakes – Lower Beverly Lake Park
Rideau Lakes – Portland Campbell Street Beach
Rideau Lakes – South Crosby (Sand Lake) Beach
Smiths Falls – Smiths Falls Senior Beach
Westport – Foley Mountain
Westport – Westport Sand Lake
These beaches are part of a larger monitoring program that sees 24 public beaches tested weekly from the end of June to the end of August. The Health Unit checks for the presence of bacteria and other environmental hazards that may pose a risk to public health.
Officials remind the public that conditions can change rapidly. Heavy rainfall, bird droppings, algae blooms and runoff from streets or septic systems can all impact water quality, even after beaches have been tested.
Swimmers are advised to avoid water that looks murky, contains visible algae, or has a strong odour. In particular, blue-green algae blooms can pose serious health risks to people and pets, causing skin irritation and gastrointestinal illness, and can be toxic if ingested.
For the latest updates, visit: healthunit.org
