The public health unit in Haliburton, Kawartha, and Pine Ridge is resuming its annual beach water monitoring program.
From June 17 to August 30, the program will regularly test water across 56 monitored public beaches within the County of Haliburton, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland County.
Public health officials from the unit are checking for elevated levels of E. coli bacteria. Samples are collected from each beach and sent to a provincial lab for testing.
Results from the program are updated every Friday on the health unit’s webpage and social media platforms @HKPRDHU.
Warning signs will also be displayed at local beaches using a three-colour reporting system. Green means the beach is safe for swimming, yellow serves as a warning that high bacteria counts may be present in the water and to avoid swimming, and red indicates that the beach is closed due to high levels of bacteria.
An E. coli infection can cause flu-like symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Symptoms typically appear one to 10 days after exposure.
Bernie Mayer, health protection manager with the health unit, hopes that the public will check out local results before taking a swim.
“Our 2022 resident survey showed that 69 per cent of respondents did not review the beach water test results before entering the water,” said Mayer in a news release. “Enjoy your summer, but please also prioritize your health by staying informed.”
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