TBDHU District Beach Testing Results (August)

Written by Thunder Bay District Health Unit on 12 August 2013

Public Health Inspector Troy Sampson takes a sample from Manitouwadge Lake at the Lions' Beach. Photos OntarioNewsNorth.com

NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO – Public health inspectors sample beaches once a month in the district in July and August. High levels of E. coli (bacteria) in recreation water can cause health related problems in swimmers.

If bacterial tests indicate that levels are unsafe for swimming or other water recreation, the Health Unit will decide to post an advisory to let the public know.

The most recent tests of district beaches, conducted August 6th and 7th by TBDHU Public Health Inspector Troy Sampson, were once again full of good news (Scroll down for list of beaches tested on the Northshore and in Greenstone). OntarioNewsNorth.com also had the opportunity to meet Mr. Sampson who walked us through what his testing involves and answered questions in regards to differences in beach testing freequency between those in the City of Thunder Bay and the outlying district beaches as well as other queries we had (video at bottom of article; please scroll down).

Tips for healthy swimming

Avoid swimming up to 48 hours after heavy rainfalls. Rain can carry bacteria from the street, parking lot and shoreline and flush it into our beaches causing potential contamination.
Avoid swallowing or getting any water into your mouth.
After swimming, completely towel-dry or shower to reduce the risk of swimmers’ itch.
Don’t swim if you are feeling sick (diarrhea or vomiting) and take children on a bathroom break regularly.
Do not feed birds and get rid of garbage in the garbage cans provide.

DISTRICT BEACH TESTING RESULTS

Shuniah – Wildgoose Beach OPEN Sample Date: August 6, 2013

Red Rock – Pull A Log Beach OPEN Sample Date: August 6, 2013

Nipigon – Loftquist Beach OPEN Sample Date: August 6, 2013

Schreiber – Whitesand Lake Park OPEN Sample Date: August 6, 2013

Terrace Bay – Dockside OPEN Sample Date: August 6, 2013

Marathon – Lions Penn Lake Park OPEN Sample Date: August 6, 2013

Manitouwadge Lake OPEN Sample Date: August 6, 2013

Nakina – Cordingly Lake OPEN Sample Date: August 7, 2013

Geraldton:

Kenogamisis Fish & Game – OPEN Sample Date: August 7, 2013
Geraldton Waterfront – OPEN Sample Date: August 7, 2013

Longlac – Jeff Gauthier Memorial Park – OPEN Sample Date: August 7, 2013

Beardmore – Poplar Lodge – OPEN Sample Date: August 7, 2013

MORE INFO

Click on the links below to learn more (Links will take you out of OntarioNewsNorth.com to TBDHU website):

Beach Closure

A beach closure is issued when a catastrophic event happens or an immediate risk to health is present. This could be a sewage spill, a toxic chemical release or any visual blue-green algae in the water. Beach closures are rare.

Swimmer’s Itch

Swimmer’s itch, also known as cercarial dermatitis, is a temporary skin rash that will go away on its own. It is caused by an allergic reaction to certain microscopic parasites that infect some birds and animals.

Click here for a fact sheet that you can download
Click here for a link to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website with more detailed information