You may want to check the safety of your favourite summer beach before going out for a swim this summer.
The Renfrew County District Health Unit’s beach testing program is underway.
The program ensures that 28 public beaches in the County are tested for E. Coli. bacteria.
That includes Barry’s Bay Beach and Mayflower/Sunset and Wadsworth beaches.
The beaches are tested weekly and updates are posted on the Health Unit’s website, when needed. If a beach’s status says “Posted” it means there’s a large presence of E.coli or blue-green algae bloom and swimming is not recommended.
The health unit says swimming at beaches with high levels of bacteria is unsafe, as it can cause rashes and eye, ear, nose and throat infections.
The testing program continues until the last week of August.