Only Two Omemee Area Beaches Closed This Week- Do You Know Which?

July 11 Beach Results Issued Friday, July 15, 2011!

- Beach Testing Results For City of Kawartha Lakes -
(CITY OF KAWARTHA LAKES) – Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit reports the following beach testing results for the City of Kawartha Lakes. All beaches in City of Kawartha Lakes area were tested this week,and although fewer beaches are ‘posted’ this week, compared to previous weeks, for communities where beaches are posted, kids are anxiously waiting for the beaches to be safe once again. Unfortunately, since these tests were done four days ago, and the results just released, there may be a great many beach lovers falling ill.

Beach Posted Closed-What Does It Mean?

For the first time this summer, Omemee Beach is posted off limits for swimming.So what exactly does this mean when a beach is posted unsafe for swimming?
Public beaches are posted when the water contains high levels of E.coli or environmental contaminants that could affect the health and safety of bathers. Swimming in water that has been posted can cause health problems ranging from minor eye, skin, ear, nose and throat infections to more serious illnesses such as gastrointestinal sickness.

Beach Contamination-Causes

Beaches become contaminated in a number of ways: Storm water runoff, combined with sewer overflows, sewage treatment plant bypasses, agricultural runoff, faulty septic systems, and large populations of waterfowl all contribute to water pollution which can result in beach postings.

Help Keep Our Beaches Open!

Everyone be part of the solution to this problem. Here are some suggestions for things we can all do to help reduce water contamination:

• Pet owners ‘Stoop and scoop!’   Domestic pet waste is a major source of bacteria in storm water.
  
• Encourage Rain Water Dispersal Allow water from eaves troughs to discharge onto lawns.Help keep rainwater from going directly into the sewer system.
  
• Save Water. This avoids capacity problems at sewage treatment plants that could result in untreated sewage entering lakes and rivers.
  
• Fence livestock away from streams and provide them with an alternative source of water. Keep your herd and the environment healthy.
  
• Ensure feedlot runoff  and manure piles are properly contained.
  
• Upgrade septic systems and keep them in good working order.

To learn more about the testing of beach water, contact the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit toll-free at 1-866-888-4577. The following  information is current for the week of July 11, 2011, and is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches. The Health Unit advises local residents to note:

• Beaches marked as ‘OPEN’ are considered within acceptable levels as set out in the Ontario government’s Beach Management Protocol.
  
• Beaches marked ‘POSTED’ indicate bacterial levels in the water are higher than those considered acceptable as set out in the Ontario government’s Beach Management Protocol, making them unsafe for bathing.

Bexley Township Area
 Balsam Lake Road Beach OPEN
 Coboconk Lions Park Beach OPEN
  Bobcaygeon Area Beach Park OPEN
 Riverview Beach Park OPEN
  Carden Township Area
 Carden Township Beach OPEN
 Foxe’s Beach OPEN

Dalton Township Area

Dalton Township Beach OPEN

Eldon Township Area

Centennial Park East POSTED
 Centennial Park West OPEN
  Emily/Omemee Area Omemee Beach POSTED
  Fenelon Falls Area Birch Point OPEN
 Bond Street OPEN
 Ken Reid Conservation Area OPEN
 Killarney Bay OPEN
 Long Beach OPEN
 Sturgeon Point Beach OPEN

Laxton Township Area

Elliott Falls Beach OPEN
 Head Lake OPEN
 Norland Bathing Area OPEN
  Mariposa Township Area Sandbar Beach OPEN
  Somerville Township Area 
Burnt River Beach – Somerville OPEN
 Burnt River Four Mile Lake OPEN

Verulam Township Area

Centennial Beach – Verulam OPEN
 Verulam Recreational Park OPEN
 Picture adapted from www.flickr.com/photos/golauglau