Recreational Water

View inspection results for Recreational Water

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is mandated under the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act and the Ontario Public Health Standards to inspect recreational water facilities to ensure compliance with safety and injury prevention standards, as well as to reduce the risk of waterborne illness.

Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) monitor compliance with O. Reg. 565 /90: Public Pools and promote pool safety and cleanliness in Ottawa's recreational water facilities. PHIs visit public pools, public spas, public wading pools, and splash pads on a routine and complaint-related basis, to make sure any infractions are corrected in a timely manner. A report about each inspection is prepared and posted online, and includes outstanding infractions at the conclusion of the inspection. If necessary, follow-up inspections are conducted to ensure compliance. Inspection reports are uploaded to the website within two business days after they are completed and remain on OPH's disclosure website for two years.

As all inspected premises are listed on OPH's disclosure website. If you have any questions about a particular public pool, or public spa/whirlpool, or if there is an establishment not listed on this website, please call 613-580-6744, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email healthsante@ottawa.ca. 

OPH also monitors public beaches in accordance with the Recreational Water Protocol, 2018 which includes the inspection of any public beach that is owned or operated by a municipality to which the general public has access, and waterfronts that are part of recreational camps. OPH staff conducts routine beach surveillance by collecting beach water samples on a regular basis and by assessing the beach for health hazards that may exist. The water results take 18 to 24 hours to process in the laboratory, and as such, swim and no-swim advisories are issued based on sample results taken from the previous day.  The results and the swim and no-swim advisories are posted both online and at the beach.  If you have any questions about the sample results or if you are concerned about the safety at a public beach please call 613-580-6744, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email healthsante@ottawa.ca.

Inspection results are also available on the City of Ottawa's Open Data Catalogue.

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Important: to report an immediate hazard to people or property, call 3-1-1. 

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