Cool off in Dows Lake! NCC opens new swimming spot in Ottawa

The National Capital Commission officially took the plunge Thursday to allow swimming at Dow’s Lake. CTV’s Tyler Fleming reports.

You can cool off at Dows Lake this summer, with swimming allowed in the area along the Rideau Canal.

The National Capital Commission opened the swimming location off the recreational dock in Dows Lake at Commissioners Park in Ottawa Thursday afternoon. The NCC urges people to “swim at your own risk,” with no lifeguards on duty.

“Deep-water swimming is permitted within the designated area only,” the NCC says on its website.

“The swimming area at Dow’s Lake is more than four metres deep and is part of the natural lakebed. It is suitable for experienced swimmers only.”

A swimming area has been outlined with buoy lines, and the NCC says a swim lane for people wishing to swim laps will be coming soon.

Swimming is permitted every day, weather and conditions permitted.

National Capital Commission CEO Tobu Nussbaum was among some of the officials who made the plunge.

“It’s super refreshing, feels fantastic, and we invite everyone, visitors and residents of the national capital to come and check it out,” he says. “It’s just another example of where we can help provide opportunities for people to enjoy our amazing shorelines and waterways, along with River House and Westboro Beach, the Gatineau Park beaches like Leamy, we’ve got many opportunities for people to swim. We want swimming in the capital in the summer, to be what skating in the capital in the winter is. That’s our goal.”

The water quality will be tested throughout the summer, with results available on the Swim Guide app through the NCC’s website.

Ottawa Riverkeeper CEO Laura Reinsborough says the group has been testing the water at Dows Lake since last year to see how clean it is and if it’s safe for swimming.

“I’ve been extremely surprised by the results. It is in excellent water quality. In fact, 100 per cent of our samples have passed the test and they’ve often passed with flying colors,” she says. “So even just our most recent results, only five count was found, whereas it needs to be less than 200 to pass. So it’s an excellent water quality and so far we’ve been testing three days a week and we’re about to ramp up to five now that is open.”

At the Dows Lake dock, at the front, there is a QR code that directs visitors to the latest water quality test results. The Ottawa Riverkeeper samples and tests dozens of beaches around the National Capital Region, and their results are uploaded to theswimguide.org which provides water-quality data for hundreds of beaches across Canada and the U.S.

The NCC says the summer zone at Dows Lake will include Dominion City Beer.

Swimming had been promoted as a possible option as part of the new recreational dock the NCC opened this summer at Dows Lake.

The dock includes Muskoka chairs and bike racks, and it’s a spot to launch non-motorized watercraft like canoes and kayaks.

It cost $240,000 for the dock and safety equipment at Dows Lake off the pathway.

The NCC offers the following safe swimming tips:

• Always bring appropriate safety equipment for your comfort level, such as swim floats or lifejackets.
• Swim with a friend or shoreline watcher and keep children younger than 14 within arm’s reach.
• Stay aware of your surroundings. Evaluate water and weather conditions prior to swimming, and don’t jump in or dive into unknown conditions.
• Swimming is not recommended after heavy rains (greater than 20 mm in the past 24 to 48 hours) or during adverse weather.
• Swimming is also not recommended after dark or in low-light conditions.
• Do not swim if you are intoxicated or feeling unwell.
• Towel off thoroughly or shower when you get home.

The Dows Lake swimming location is the latest swimming spot operated by the NCC in Ottawa.

The NCC River House along the Ottawa River offers swimming, with lifeguards on duty on weekends in June and seven days a week during the summer.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Tyler Fleming