Grey Bruce Public Health has ended the no-swimming advisory for Southampton Beach after receiving the results of a new series of beach water samples – tested over the Labour Day long weekend – that show bacterial levels have returned to within Ministry of Health guidelines for safe swimming/bathing.

“We would like to thank the residents of Saugeen Shores and visitors to Southampton Beach for respecting the no-swim advisory over the long weekend. Beaches are posted when bacterial levels in the water could pose a risk to human health,” says GBPH Senior Public Health Manager Andrew Barton.

Public Health, in consultation with the Town of Saugeen Shores, had posted Southampton Beach as unsafe for swimming on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.

The decision was made after GBPH received lab confirmation that water samples from the beach had bacterial levels exceeding Ontario’s recreational water quality guideline of a maximum of 200 E. coli per 100 millilitres of water.

Public Health samples the water at Southampton Beach between High Street and Beach Road.

People who swim, play in, or use beach water with high bacterial levels are at an increased risk of getting sick or an infection.

Even if a beach is not officially posted as unsafe for swimming, Grey Bruce Public Health advises people to use their best judgment before taking a dip or allowing children or pets to swim or play in the water. Water quality can change from day to day or even hour to hour depending on the weather and other conditions.

Do not swim or play in beach water within 48 hours of heavy rainfall, if the water is so cloudy that you cannot see your feet at waist-deep, or if there is a large number of birds or algae in the water.