Sampling Public Beach Water
Each year, we take samples of local beaches from June until the end of August to make sure the water is safe for people to swim in. Most beaches are sampled monthly, and few (beaches with a history of adverse sample results) are sampled weekly.
Samples go to the Public Health Ontario Laboratory in Sudbury and Orillia to be tested for Escherichia coli (commonly known as E. coli), a sign that the water has been contaminated with fecal matter. It takes about 24 hours for us to receive and analyze the water quality results from the lab.
See below to learn about the status of your local public beach.
When is a Beach “Posted”?
If the level of E. coli in a sample set is more than 200 E. coli cfu/100mL, the beach will be re-sampled within 24 hours.
If the level of E. coli in the re-sample set is more than 200 E. coli cfu/100mL, the water is considered unsafe for recreational use, including swimming.
When a beach is unsafe, the “Unsafe for Swimming” sign (see below) will be posted to let beach visitors know about the high bacterial counts and potential threat to human health.
The sign is taken down when re-samples show levels of E. coli have returned to acceptable levels.
Between sampling periods, the beach water may have unsafe levels of bacteria due to:
- Heavy rainfall (the Rainfall Warning sign, below, is posted at all public beaches)
- Large numbers of waterfowl
- High winds or wave activity
- Large numbers of swimmers
When is a Beach “Closed”?
A beach is “closed” when a significant risk to human health and safety has been identified, such as signs of something in the water that could cause a hazard or infection.
Swimming in the water is NOT allowed when a beach is closed, and there will be little or no public access to the beach. A ‘Do Not Swim’ sign (see below) will be posted at the beach.
The beach is re-opened when there is no longer a risk to human health and safety.
Beach Status
The beach water quality testing has ended for the season.
Name of Beach |
Address |
Date Updated |
Type of Inspection (routine monitoring, complaint-based) |
Status (Open, Posted, Closed, Not Tested) |
Ahmic Harbour Beach |
Ahmic St, Magnetawan |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Barrie St Beach |
End of Barrie St, Sundridge |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Bell Lake Beach |
18 Bell Lake Rd, McDougall |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Big Moose Beach |
60 Big Moose Rd, Corbeil |
August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Birchaven Cove |
465 Lakeside Dr, North Bay |
August 22, 2022 Tested Weekly |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Callander Bay Beach |
833 Main St S, Callander |
August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Callander Centennial Park Beach |
Main St N, Callander |
August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Champlain Park Beach |
1202 Premier Rd, North Bay |
August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Checkerboard Beach |
End of Sunny Beach Rd, Strong |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Clear Lake Beach |
188 Churchill Gardens Rd, Perry |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Community Centre Beach |
701 Hwy 124, McKellar |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Doe Lake Beach |
Off Birch Court, McMurrich Monteith |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Doe Lake Municipal Park |
1014 Ferguson Rd, Armour |
Tested the week of July 18, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Whitestone Beach |
Across 21 Church St, Whitestone |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Elks Lodge Park Beach |
1200 Hwy 17 E, North Bay |
August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Eva Wardlaw Park Beach |
458 Lakeshore Dr, North Bay |
August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
First Lake Beach |
95 Blackstone Crane Lake Rd, Seguin |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Fitzgerald Beach |
2 West Carling Bay Rd, Carling |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Foley Matheson Park & Beach |
125 Rankin Lake Rd, Seguin |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Halcyon Shore Beach |
2136 Pickeral/Jack Lake Rd, Armour |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Horseshoe Lake Beach |
21 McKaig Dr, Seguin |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Lake Joseph Centennial Beach |
276 Clear Lake Rd, Seguin |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Lakeshore Drive Beach |
Lake Manitouwabing, McKellar |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Lions Park Beach |
91 Main St, Sundridge |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Long Lake Estates Beach Park |
1 Beaver Trail, McDougall |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Magnetawan Centennial Park Beach |
Off Highway 520, Magnetawan |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Maple Key Park & Beach |
14 Maple Key Park Rd, Seguin |
Tested the week of July 18, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Maple Wood Beach |
Lake Manitouwabing, McKellar |
Tested the week of July 18, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Mattawa Beach |
Between 4/5 Street, Mattawa |
August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
McManus Beach |
Lakeview Dr Rd, Kearney |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Nine Mile Lake Beach |
40 Nine Mile Lake Rd, McDougall |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Nobel Beach Park |
66 Big Sound, McDougall |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Sail Parry Sound Site Beach |
End of Waubuno Rd, Parry Sound |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Olmsted Beach |
60 Lakeside Dr, North Bay |
August 22, 2022 Tested Weekly |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Perry Clear Lake Beach |
188 Churchill Gardens Rd, Perry |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Rosseau Waterfront Park |
2 Jim Swift Dr, Seguin |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
St-Jean Beach |
End of St Jean Rd, Verner |
August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Shabogesic Beach |
117 Memorial Dr, North Bay |
August 22, 2022 Tested Weekly |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Shebeshekong Beach |
94 Shebeshekong Rd, Carling |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
South Lake Bernard Beach |
Next to 722 South Lake Bernard Rd, Strong |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Stewart Park Beach |
Lake Manitouwabing, McKellar |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Sturgeon Falls Beach |
End of Main St. W., Nipissing |
August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Sunny Ridge Beach |
End of Sunny Ridge Rd, Strong |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Sunset Park Beach |
50 Sunset Blvd, North Bay |
August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Taylor Beach Park |
9 Riverview Dr, McDougall |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Union Street Beach |
End of Union St, Strong |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Sundridge Victoria Beach |
End of Lake Bernard Dr, Sundridge |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Waubuno Beach |
End of Prospect St, Parry Sound |
Tested the week of August 22, 2022 |
Routine monitoring |
Open |
Not Tested = For various reasons, such as a harmful algae bloom is present, high water levels and/or debris are in the area.
For more information, please contact our Environmental Health Program at 1-800-563-2808, extension 5400 or by email at environmental.health@healthunit.ca.
Adapted with permission from Peterborough Public Health.