Complications from heavy rains overnight in Owen Sound have caused health officials to deem Kelso and Bayshore beach as potentially unsafe for swimming.
Chris Munn — a Director at the Grey Bruce Health Unit — says the posting is just a precautionary measure as there was a small sewage bypass that occurred at the Owen Sound treatment plant.
Munn says they don’t know exactly where the bypass occurred or the size of it — so it was best to post the beaches.
Munn explains a bypass is when there is too much water that comes through and it affects the lagoon area and some untreated water may leak out.
Environmental samples will be taken at several points this morning will determine if there are higher than normal levels of bacteria in the water.
Munn says it takes at least 48 hours for the samples to return from the ministry of health — so we can expect the beaches to be posted for at least two days.
The posting will be lifted once samples show that results are within acceptable levels.
Munn says Kelso beach is not part of the 2010 sample regime, however due to historic evidence it has been posted as well as Bayshore.
