Beach water testing returns ahead of summer swim season

Jenny Tan, Public Health Inspector with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit taking beach water samples. (File)

Beach season is officially making a splash in Windsor-Essex.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit begins weekly water testing at seven local beaches this week.

The first samples will be collected Wednesday and tested for E. coli, with results posted Friday to help swimmers know when it’s safe to hit the water.

Alongside routine testing, the health unit is also expanding its predictive beach water testing program to all seven beaches this summer.

The daily model uses weather conditions like rainfall and temperature to estimate water quality in real time.

“It is great news,” said Jenny Tan, Environmental Health manager with the WECHU. “With more beaches participating, we also have more data, meaning we can refine the model even further to make it more accurate.”

The predictive system rates beaches as low, moderate, or high risk for swimming — giving beachgoers another tool before heading out with towels and sunscreen.

East Park Beach on Pelee Island is also joining the predictive program this year, even though it does not currently receive weekly testing.

Meanwhile, Sandpoint Beach will remain off limits to swimmers this summer while it stays fenced off and closed.

Health officials are also reminding residents to stay out of the water after heavy rain, when bacteria levels tend to spike.

Weekly beach testing results will continue through the end of August.