Summer officially arrived on June 21 and with warm weather comes an easier way to check local beach conditions.
This year, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) will be tweeting water testing results through a special Twitter account @WDGBeachTesting.
Results will be updated on the WDGPublicHealth.ca website and Twitter every Wednesday and Friday until the end of August.
Results indicate whether a beach is open or if it is “posted,” which means Public Health has recommended that swimmers should avoid the water until conditions improve.
“Swimming in water contaminated with bacteria can lead to diarrhea and infections of the eyes, nose, throat, ears, and skin,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health for WDGPH.
“Look for signs on the beach that tell you whether it is safe to swim, and follow us on Twitter to see the latest testing results.”
Beaches are tested once a week, unless bacterial counts exceed Ministry of the Health and Long-Term Care standards. If they do, a second sample is sent to confirm the results. For a list of beaches tested, visit WDGPublicHealth.ca.
