Grey Bruce Public Health, in consultation with the Town of the Blue Mountains, has posted Northwinds Beach near Craigleith as unsafe for swimming.
They say water samples taken Tuesday, and returned with results Thursday, showed bacteria levels exceeding Ontario Ministry of Health standards.
“These results are likely due to the heavy rainfall the area experienced last weekend,” says Senior Public Health Manager Chimere Okoronkwo.
Public Health says the beach posting will remain in effect until further samples show levels have returned to within the acceptable range for swimming. They took new samples Friday and hope for results early next week.
Okoronkwo says, “While we understand that this posting will be an inconvenience to some – especially ahead of a summer weekend – we respectfully ask that residents and visitors respect this swim advisory as people are at an increased risk of getting sick or an infection when bacterial levels in beach water exceed Ontario guidelines.”
Grey Bruce Public Health regularly tests the water at high-use beaches for E. coli levels.
They say you should avoid swimming or playing in the beach water at Northwinds Beach or let pets drink or play in the water until the unsafe for swimming advisory is lifted.
They say water with bacteria levels above provincial standards for bathing can increase the risk of skin, eye, ear, nose, and throat infections or gastrointestinal illness.