Beach postings lifted

Beach Postings
June 2, 2011:
The following beaches in our area are presently posted:
NONE

The following beaches in our area were posted but are no longer posted:
Wellington Beach – Wellington Bay (P.E.C.)
Centennial Park, Deseronto – Bay of Quinte

The Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit monitors bathing beach water quality at designated public beaches.  Bathing beach water quality is monitored by the collection and analyses of water samples.  Samples are analyzed at a public health laboratory for the presence of E. coli bacteria.  When E. coli bacteria exceed the provincial standard, the bathing beach is considered to be unsafe for swimming and the following warning sign is posted at the beach:
HASTINGS & PRINCE EDWARD COUNTIES HEALTH UNIT WARNING: Unsafe for swimming. High levels of bacteria in these waters may pose a risk to your health
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

Heavy rain makes beaches unsafe for swimming

The Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit warns Wellington Beach and Centennial Park beach at Deseronto are unsafe for swimming as high levels of bacteria in these waters may pose a risk to health.
“The Health Unit recommends that people do not swim at a public beach for up to 48 hours after a heavy rain because E. coli levels tend to be higher then,” says Joanna Mestre, health promoter. “High levels of bacteria in recreational water can cause skin, ear, eye, nose and throat infections and stomach disorders.”
The Health Unit’s 2011 Beach Monitoring Program officially began May 17.
“Each week, Health Unit staff collect a minimum of five water samples from the beaches scheduled for monitoring that week,” says Allison Girouard, public health inspector. “These samples are sent to a provincial lab and tested for bacteria levels.”
When bacterial counts exceed provincial guidelines, Health Unit staff will post warning signs at the beach advising that the water is unsafe for swimming.

These bathing beaches will be tested once a week over the summer months:
Centennial Park, Deseronto – Bay of Quinte
Frankford Park – Trent River
Legion Park, Marmora – Crowe River
Tweed Park – Stoco Lake
Wellington Beach – Wellington Bay

These bathing beaches will be tested once every two weeks over the summer months:
Centennial Park, Northport – Bay of Quinte
Kingsford Conservation Area – Salmon River
Moira Lake Park – Moira Lake
Roblin Lake Park – Roblin Lake

These bathing beaches will be tested once a month in June, July and August:
Booster Park Beach – Crowe Lake
Diamond Lake Beach – Diamond Lake
Echo Beach – Papineau Lake
Fosters Lake Beach – Fosters Lake
Hinterland Beach – Kaminiskeg Lake
LAmable Lake Dam – LAmable Lake
Riverside Park – York River
Steenburgh Lake
Wollaston Lake Beach – Wollaston Lake

“We all need to do our part to improve water quality,” says Joanna Mestre, a health promoter with the Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit. She suggests the following:
* Upgrade septic systems and keep them in good working order.
* Observe local “stoop and scoop” bylaws if you are a pet owner and remove dog droppings immediately from city streets, public parks and private property.
* Detach eaves troughs, where appropriate, from sewers so they discharge onto lawns. This reduces the amount of rainwater going directly into sewers.
* Reduce your household water use. This helps capacity problems at some municipal sewage treatment plants.
* Ensure that washroom additions to your home are connected properly to the sanitary sewer pipes.
* Fence livestock away from streams and provide them with alternate water sources in agricultural areas. This will benefit herd health and the environment.
* Ensure that run-off from feedlots and manure piles is properly contained.

For additional beach information, call the Beach Line at (613) 966-5513 x 652 or visit yourhealthunit.ca and click news/beach reports from the top menu bar.