Sharing an important update from Ottawa Public Health concerning beach water safety and water quality:
As outlined in a public service announcement released on May 15, 2025, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has shifted the beach water quality program to support individual decision-making before, during and after swimming to help everyone take appropriate measures to enjoy the beaches safely and responsibly. As part of this approach, OPH brought its water testing strategy into alignment with provincial standards by shifting testing to weekly, rather than daily sampling.
OPH is sharing more information about the evidence and rationale for these changes to address any misunderstanding. This decision was made following a thorough review of historical data, scientific evidence, and best practices across Ontario and Canada. It was not driven by cost-saving considerations. At beaches on Ottawa rivers, daily sampling is not superior to weekly sampling for informing the public about current water quality risks (i.e., at time of use).
At the Board of Health meeting on June 16, 2025, a motion was carried directing OPH staff to undertake a comparative analysis of weekly versus daily sampling, in collaboration with the Ottawa Riverkeeper and other interest holders, of the relative risks of daily and weekly water testing, and to promote the safe public use of our beaches. A report will be brought back to the Board of Health in September 2025. There has not been a reversal of OPH’s approach to test weekly for the 2025 beach season.
It is important to note that sampling for E. coli is done by local public health units as part of the requirements under the Ontario Public Health Standards – Recreational Water Quality Protocol, as an indicator of long-term trends for some specific risks to human health (i.e., gastrointestinal illness, skin and ear infections). E. coli measurement by OPH does not provide a broader measure of health risks associated with swimming in freshwater lakes or rivers, nor is it meant to be used as an estimate of the ecological health of a river. This change in routine testing does not impact OPH’s ability to investigate and respond to reports of biological or chemical health hazards in recreational swimming areas such as blue-green algae blooms.
Historical data has provided a strong understanding of how local beach water responds to environmental conditions, with water quality meeting provincial standards nearly 85% of the time. An analysis of Ottawa’s 2024 beach water sampling data by OPH indicates there is no significant difference in weekly versus daily sampling for estimating beach water quality for fecal contamination of E. coli for the purposes of informing the public about current risks (i.e., at time of use). The delay between sample collection and results which is 18-24 hours, combined with the ongoing replacement of water in the river, limits the usefulness of daily sampling as the test result is only available the following day. OPH’s analysis shows clear evidence that rainfall is a significant predictor of water quality at all local beaches, particularly in the hours following the rainfall and before the sampling result is available. In other words, because it takes 18–24 hours to receive water sample results, rainfall that occurs after the sample is taken can significantly alter water quality, meaning the test result may no longer reflect the actual conditions by the time it is communicated to the public or used to inform swimming decisions. This year, OPH is making individuals aware of the importance of weather conditions in assessing real-time water safety to inform decision-making.
In preparing to implement these changes OPH engaged early with City Councillors representing wards with beaches, and collaborated with partners including Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services (RCFS) to seek feedback on the proposed changes, support the transition and identify strategies for implementation including:
- Issuing a public service announcement describing approach for upcoming season
- Creating content to share through local elected official newsletters,
- Conducting several media interviews with local news outlets,
- Contributing health messaging for new signage on site,
- Thinking about swimming printable handout available in English, French and Arabic,
- Developing a new webpage to assist Ottawa residents with identifying ways to lower their risk before, during and after swimming. This website includes a better visualization of historical water quality at each beach,
- Working with RCFS to provide health messaging for audio recordings that will play at all beaches to advise on recent rainfall and other considerations when swimming at Ottawa beaches, and
- Deploying OPH staff on-site at the beaches over the first few weekends of the supervised beach season to answer any questions about water quality.
Drowning prevention
OPH works closely with partners including RCFS and the Ottawa Drowning Prevention Coalition to share information on how people can reduce their risk of water-related injuries and drowning when visiting Ottawa’s beaches. RCFS issued a memo to Council on June 16, 2025 with the drowning prevention strategies that will be implemented this season at Ottawa’s supervised beaches including:
- Beginning this summer, the flag system has been changed by RCFS to better reflect safety hazards. This change was recommended by the Lifesaving Society and is strongly supported by OPH:
- Green flag indicates that lifeguards are supervising the designated swim area.
- Red flag indicates that lifeguards are not supervising the designated swim area.
- Red-over-yellow flags mark the boundaries of a specific area being supervised by lifeguards—swimmers should stay within these flags for their safety.
- Signage improvements with increased use of pictograms and concise language that highlight more water safety messaging.
- Lifejacket loaner program
- Public education campaign focusing on water safety, targeting various demographics including children, adults and tourists.
OPH also shares summer water safety resources on its website and with partners, including a Keep cool and stay safe around water fact sheet that is available in English, French, Ukrainian, Spanish, Somali, Pashto, Inuktitut, Chinese, and Arabic. This information is shared with partners including Ottawa school boards. Ottawa Public Health also partnered with Aqua-Tots to bring water safety information to schools for kindergarten to grade 3, reaching 155 schools. Key public health messages include:
- Swim when a lifeguard is on duty (noon to 7pm during the supervised swimming season) and wear a lifejacket, if you’re a weaker swimmer.
- Don’t swim alone. Always swim with others who know how to swim.
- Be aware of the conditions where you swim. Watch for currents and changes in the lake or river bottom.
- Refrain from consuming alcohol and other substances that may impair your ability to stay safe around the water.
- Parents: ensure your child is within arm’s reach and ensure they have a properly fitted lifejacket or personal flotation device.
- Know what to do in case of an emergency, including CPR and calling 9-1-1.
While OPH plays a central role in water quality monitoring, ensuring safe beach experiences is a shared responsibility involving multiple City partners, community organizations, and residents. OPH is committed to working closely with partners throughout the summer to monitor the impacts of this year’s changes, gather feedback, and ensure that the public remains well-informed and confident in the quality of Ottawa’s beaches.