Beach Water Quality Results

August 29, 2022 - Water testing at Ottawa beaches is now over for the season. The City of Ottawa no longer has supervised swimming at these public beaches.

Beach Water Quality Testing at the City of Ottawa Supervised Beaches

Water samples will be collected daily from City of Ottawa supervised beaches between June 18 and August 28, 2022 and tested for the presence of E. coli bacteria. When elevated levels of E. coli are detected in the water, it is more likely that other disease-causing organisms are also present. These organisms can result in skin, ear, throat or gastro-intestinal illnesses. 

Beaches and COVID-19 Transmission

Swimming at the City of Ottawa public beaches is not considered to be an important risk for transmission of COVID-19.  Water is not a favoured route of transmission for the virus that causes COVID-19. This virus preferentially transmits short distances (up to two metres) through the air by respiratory droplets from an infected person (from coughing, sneezing, shouting, singing, talking, breathing), by direct  contact with an infected person or by contact with a surface that an infected person has touched (and now, contaminated fingers bringing the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth).

To minimize transmission of COVID-19 when at a public beach or park:

  • Practice physical distancing from others in changerooms, washrooms and wear a mask for added protection in areas you cannot maintain at least two metres from others not in your group. 
  • When in the water, on the shorelines and enjoying the park and picnic areas, practice physical distancing. While the risk of transmission of COVID-19 is much less outdoors than indoors, when there is significant crowding, as there could be at a pool or beach, there is greater concern about spread.
  • Physical distancing, wearing face masks, staying home when sick, and practicing good hand hygiene remain the best way to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Beach water test results 

Water test results are not available immediately as they take at least 18 hours to process in the laboratory. For this reason, swim advisories are issued based on water sample results from the previous day, as well as our knowledge of water quality at each beach in previous years and how they react to factors such as rainfall and bird activity. Ottawa Public Health will not recommend swimming at beaches if: 

  • the geometric mean of 5 water samples taken on the previous day is greater than 200 E. coli per 100mL of water (Ontario water quality standard for beach water quality);
  • there is a significant rainfall event; or
  • we are aware of a situation that could impact the water quality at a beach.

For information on the City of Ottawa Beaches visit the City of Ottawa website.

For more information on the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program, call Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 and ask to speak with a Public Health Inspector.

Swim icon Swim

Red caution symbolSwimming not recommended

  • Swim in the supervised area. Lifeguards are on duty from 11 am to 7 pm every day during the supervised swimming season.
  • Avoid going into water with an open wound.
  • Don't swallow the water or take it in your mouth. It is best to keep your head out of the water.
  • Shower as soon as possible after swimming and dry ears thoroughly with a towel. 
  • Wash hands carefully with soap and treated water or use alcohol-based hand rub after playing in the sand, and before preparing foods or eating.
  • As a precaution, take children to the toilet before entering the water. 

If you choose to wade into the water:

  • Avoid going into water with an open wound.
  • Don't swallow the water or take it in your mouth. It is best to keep your head out of the water.
  • Shower as soon as possible after using water.
  • Wash hands carefully with soap and treated water or use alcohol-based hand rub after playing in the sand, and before preparing foods or eating.

Tips for staying safe around lakes and rivers.

Tips to stay cool during a Heat Warning 

Previous results for 2022
Previous results for 2022
DateBritannia BeachMooney's BayPetrie Island East BayPetrie Island River Beaches

August 28, 2022

451 (Swimming not recommended) 52 (Swim) 96 (Swim) 212 (Swimming not recommended)

August 27, 2022

76 (Swim) 67 (Swimming not recommended (Rainfall)) 1000 (Swimming not recommended) 79 (Swim)

August 26, 2022

237 (Swimming not recommended) 89 (Swim) 307 (Swimming not recommended) 50 (Swim)

August 25, 2022

169 (Swim) 134 (Swim) 265 (Swimming not recommended) 152 (Swim)

August 24, 2022

208 (Swimming not recommended) 349 (Swimming not recommended) 394 (Swimming not recommended) 87 (Swim)

August 23, 2022

70 (Swim) 34 (Swim) 939 (Swimming not recommended) 123 (Swim)

August 22, 2022

140 (Swim) 32 (Swim) 379 (Swimming not recommended) 45 (Swim)

August 21, 2022

141 (Swim) 33 (Swim) 41 (Swim) 55 (Swim)

August 20, 2022

51 (Swim) 20 (Swim) 72 (Swim) 63 (Swim)

August 19, 2022

265 (Swimming not recommended) 71 (Swim) 249 (Swimming not recommended) 66 (Swim)

August 18, 2022

65 (Swim) 43 (Swim) 338 (Swimming not recommended) 36 (Swim)

August 17, 2022

36 (Swim) 47 (Swim) 255 (Swimming not recommended) 43 (Swim)

August 16, 2022

229 (Swimming not recommended) 49 (Swim) 44 (Swim) 46 (Swim)

August 15, 2022

136 (Swim) 23 (Swim) 111 (Swim) 28 (Swim)

August 14, 2022

66 (Swim) 53 (Swim) 65 (Swim) 36 (Swim)

August 13, 2022

175 (Swim) 85 (Swim) 76 (Swim) 60 (Swim)

August 12, 2022

71 (Swim) 59 (Swim) 176 (Swim) 100 (Swim)

August 11, 2022

146 (Swim) 154 (Swim) 164 (Swim) 332 (Swimming not recommended)

August 10, 2022

382 (Swimming not recommended) 245 (Swimming not recommended) 146 (Swim) 219 (Swimming not recommended)

August 9, 2022

1000 (Swimming not recommended) 441 (Swimming not recommended) 834 (Swimming not recommended) 590 (Swimming not recommended)

August 8, 2022

129 (Swimming not recommended (Rainfall)) 47 (Swimming not recommended (Rainfall)) 29 (Swimming not recommended (Rainfall)) 41 (Swimming not recommended (Rainfall))

August 7, 2022

34 (Swim) 21 (Swim) 807 (Swimming not recommended) 44 (Swim)

August 6, 2022

131 (Swim) 11 (Swim) 46 (Swim) 39 (Swim)

August 5, 2022

19 (Swim) 16 (Swim) 65 (Swim) 44 (Swim)

August 4, 2022

25 (Swim) 22 (Swim) 130 (Swim) 46 (Swim)

August 3, 2022

119 (Swim) 29 (Swim) 233 (Swimming not recommended) 33 (Swim)

August 2, 2022

27 (Swim) 26 (Swim) 74 (Swim) 57 (Swim)

August 1, 2022

20 (Swim) 20 (Swim) 172 (Swim) 21 (Swim)

July 31, 2022

32 (Swim) 13 (Swim) 254 (Swimming not recommended) 20 (Swim)

July 30, 2022

115 (Swim) 57 (Swim) 67 (Swim) 55 (Swim)

July 29, 2022

42 (Swim) 15 (Swim) 75 (Swim) 30 (Swim)

July 28, 2022

57 (Swim) 20 (Swim) 58 (Swim) 46 (Swim)

July 27, 2022

58 (Swim) 26 (Swim) 98 (Swim) 117 (Swim)

July 26, 2022

536 (Swimming not recommended) 172 (Swim) 578 (Swimming not recommended) 146 (Swim)

July 25, 2022

18 (Swim) 14 (Swim) 37 (Swim) 59 (Swim)

July 24, 2022

32 (Swim) 16 (Swim) 22 (Swim)  25 (Swim) 

July 23, 2022

69 (Swim) 30 (Swim) 101 (Swim) 59 (Swim)

July 22, 2022

43 (Swim) 28 (Swim) 108 (Swim) 54 (Swim)

July 21, 2022

144 (Swim) 41 (Swim) 85 (Swim) 85 (Swim)

July 20, 2022

44 (Swim) 40 (Swim) 111 (Swim) 90 (Swim)

July 19, 2022

43 (Swim) 12 (Swim) 55 (Swim) 43 (Swim)

July 18, 2022

103 (Swim) 20 (Swim) 20 (Swim) 20 (Swim)

July 17, 2022

47 (Swim) 14 (Swim) 34 (Swim) 24 (Swim)

July 16, 2022

99 (Swim) 10 (Swim) 120 (Swim) 34 (Swim)

July 15, 2022

92 (Swim) 20 (Swim) 122 (Swim) 74 (Swim)

July 14, 2022

177 (Swim) 27 (Swim) 168 (Swim) 167 (Swim)

July 13, 2022

58 (Swim) 15 (Swim) 13 (Swim) 16 (Swim)

July 12, 2022

46 (Swim) 14 (Swim) 16 (Swim) 22 (Swim)

July 11, 2022

85 (Swim) 10 (Swim) 18 (Swim) 19 (Swim)

July 10, 2022

83 (Swim) 19 (Swim) 21 (Swim) 14 (Swim)

July 9, 2022

37 (Swim) 34 (Swim) 18 (Swim) 39 (Swim)

July 8, 2022

19 (Swim) 13 (Swim) 17 (Swim) 34 (Swim)

July 7, 2022

37 (Swim) 20 (Swim) 21 (Swim) 58 (Swim)

July 6, 2022

40 (Swim) 37 (Swim) 15 (Swim) 47 (Swim)

July 5, 2022

53 (Swim) 10 (Swim) 22 (Swim) 28 (Swim)

July 4, 2022

135 (Swim) 10 (Swim) 11 (Swim) 30 (Swim)

July 3, 2022

105 (Swim) 13 (Swim) 11 (Swim) 36 (Swim)

July 2, 2022

36 (Swim) 16 (Swim) 17 (Swim) 39 (Swim)

July 1, 2022

30 (Swim) 35 (Swim) 16 (Swim) 40 (Swim)

June 30, 2022

19 (Swim) 31 (Swim) 25 (Swim) 32 (Swim)

June 29, 2022

142 (Swim) 11 (Swim) 28 (Swim) 72 (Swim)

June 28, 2022

432 (Swimming not recommended) 17 (Swim) 57 (Swim) 26 (Swim)

June 27, 2022

24 (Swim) 55 (Swim) 19 (Swim) 16 (Swim)

June 26, 2022

14 (Swim) 35 (Swim) 19 (Swim) 23 (Swim)

June 25, 2022

16 (Swim) 25 (Swim) 56 (Swim) 44 (Swim)

June 24, 2022

13 (Swim) 32 (Swim) 325 (Swimming not recommended) 87 (Swim)

June 23, 2022

97 (Swim) 66 (Swim) 48 (Swim) 155 (Swim)

June 22, 2022

17 (Swim) 47 (Swim) 78 (Swimming not recommended (Rainfall)) 13 (Swimming not recommended (Rainfall))

June 21, 2022

86 (Swim) 26 (Swim) 11 (Swim) 24 (Swim)

June 20, 2022

38 (Swim) 17 (Swim) 20 (Swim) 16 (Swim)

June 19, 2022

285 (Swimming not recommended) 20 (Swim) 11 (Swim) 26 (Swim)

June 18, 2022

98 (Swim) 56 (Swim) 20 (Swim) 36 (Swim)

The City of Ottawa Open Data keeps Beach water sampling data from previous years. 

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