View from Southampton Beach in the summer of 2021. (Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting News)
The Grey Bruce Health Unit advises water sampling at Southampton Beach has identified higher levels of bacterial contamination.
Public Health says the results are in excess of Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care standards, and are consistent with the high wave action and turbidity (cloudiness) identified at the time of sampling.
“The Grey Bruce Health Unit advises bathers that high levels of bacteria in recreational water may pose a risk to their health. Bathers are reminded to avoid swimming after heavy rain or in cloudy water,” a release from the Health Unit explains. “Swimming in areas that have higher than acceptable bacteria counts can lead to illness especially if accidental ingestion of water occurs.”
The Health Unit notes re-sampling of the beach water has been carried out to determine the safety of using the beach again.