Manager of Health Protection at the Grey Bruce Health Unit Lou D’Alesandro says his office will be out in full force this summer carrying out the water sampling program.
D’Alesandro says they look after beaches from Point Clarke, up the Lake Huron Shoreline, and around Georgian Bay to Collingwood.
He says unfortunately they don’t have the resources to check conditions everywhere so they’ve had to “pick their spots”.
D’Alesandro says the water-sampling program has changed from last year.
He says under the new protocols from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the beaches to be sampled have to be municipally run public beaches with a lifeguard or running a children’s recreation program, or a blue flag beach.
D’Alesandro says they’ve gone from 80 beaches four or five years ago to 44 last year, to 15-16 this year.
He says they will post those beaches with warning signs if they get adverse samples, but D’Alesandro says people can use their own common sense.
D’Alesandro says if you’re standing in the water, and you can’t see your feet, you likely shouldn’t be swimming.
He is also encouraging people to pick up a copy of the Health Unit’s brochure “Safe Day at the Beach”.
D’Alesandro is also proud of the popularity of the Blue Flag program in the region.
Sauble Beach and Boiler Beach in Kincardine are already designated.
He says the Town of the Blue Mountains has entered into the program, at Little River and Northwinds.
D’Alesandro says he’s also hearing rumblings that Owen Sound may look into getting a Blue Flag designation as well.
