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Beaches

HomeHealth TopicsBeach, Lake and Pool WaterBeaches
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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.

Warning sign that reads, "DO NOT SWIM. The water at this location is not safe for swimming." Image to indicate that swimming is not allowed.

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

Open = E. coli bacteria levels are within acceptable range at the time of sampling.
Posted = E. coli bacteria levels are high. It is not safe to swim in the water.
Closed = A health hazard exists and you are not allowed to use access to the beach area.

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.

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