Swim Guide ensures you’ll have the information you need for a great day at the beach.
TORONTO, February 2018 — Beach goers can access even better beach and water quality information, including service in 3 languages, with the launch of Swim Guide’s third version of its Android app: Swim Guide 3.3
With nearly 2 million users to date, Swim Guide 3.3 is a free app helping people find great places to swim, and keeping them informed of the latest water quality monitoring results so they can avoid swimming in contaminated water. New research from the US estimates 90 million recreational water illnesses are contracted annually, making it pertinent that the public be better informed about contamination at the beaches where they swim.
Swim Guide’s international beach data collection and technology development projects ensure that information about recreational water quality is easy to find and easy to understand. Swim Guide projects like the Guide’s open data standard for the automated exchange of recreational water quality data help get relevant information into the hands of the public as more quickly so that more people can choose clean beaches, avoid illness, and spend more time on the water.
Swim Guide, which is also available on iOS and on the web, is the most comprehensive beach water quality service in world. It is a program of Swim Drink Fish Canada, a Canadian charity that connects people with water.
Quotes
“Since launching Swim Guide in 2011 our goal has been to make water quality information simple to access and easy to understand, for as many people as possible. In addition to improving the search, design, and data presentation with this latest version of the Android app, we are incredibly proud to be able to provide this service in multiple languages so that even more beach lovers can easily find all of the information they need to have a great day on the water.”
– Mark Mattson, President at Swim Drink Fish Canada
“Through CIRA’s Community Investment Program, we are proud to support Canadian organizations as they use technology and innovation to enhance what they do. It’s exciting to see this project by Swim Drink Fish Canada move forward, which will arm Canadians with the information they need to enjoy recreational waterways this summer and beyond.”
– David Fowler, Vice President marketing and communications, CIRA.
Quick Facts
Every year, 60% of Canadians and over 60% of Americans visit marine beaches, rivers, lakes, and ponds to swim and engage in other recreational water activities.
New research from the US found that 4.04 billion surface water recreation events occur annually, resulting in an estimated 90 million illnesses nationwide and costs of $2.2 -$3.7 billion annually.
Swim Guide offers water quality alerts, beach descriptions, photos, and directions for over 7,000 beaches. Swim Guide launched in two new countries in 2017 : The Bahamas and Australia. We are now active in 6 countries.
Swim Guide has nearly 2 million all-time users.
Last year (2017) Swim Guide had 700,000 unique Swim Guide users, a 67% increase over 2016.
Canadians made up 63% of our total Swim Guide users in 2017.
The new version of the apps, Swim Guide 3.3 Android and Swim Guide 3.3 iOS are available in English, French, and Spanish.
Other new updates to Android Version 3.3 include: A brand new design; Bug fixes and performance improvements; Expanded search allows you to look up beaches by name, city, region, etc; Improved navigation of beach options; New water quality status icons for current, historical, and special status; Easier-to-use pollution reporting tool; Connect directly with the local affiliate managing your favourite beach; New sponsor page; Improved integration with the new Swim Guide website
In May 2017 Swim Guide received a grant from CIRA.ca to develop the first ever Open Data Standard for Recreational Water Quality. The standard was released to the public for comments in December 2017. An open data standard will increase data exchange, improve public awareness of water quality, and aid researchers trying to protect recreational waters. The initiative will reduce the number of people getting sick from contact with polluted water and increase the number of environmental protection plans for communities affected by pollution. The comment period is open until March 1, and the first version of the standard will be released ahead of the 2018 swim season.
Photos (including logos)
Swim Guide 3.3 – Android (English, Español, and Français)
Swim Guide 3.3 – iOS
2017 Swim Guide infographic – here
Photo credit instructions: “Photo courtesy Swim Drink Fish Canada”
Additional Links
Swim Guide is a beach information service created by Swim Drink Fish Canada (formerly Lake Ontario Waterkeeper), a non-profit organization based in Toronto. Swim Guide started on Lake Ontario and has since expanded to describe beach information, water quality history, and water quality monitoring practices in every province in Canada. Since 2011, “Swim Guide” beach information website and app have been the most comprehensive beach water quality service in Canada.
With nearly 2 million app and web users, Swim Guide offers water quality alerts, beach descriptions, photos, and directions for over 7,000 beaches in Canada, the U.S.A., as well as Baja Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and the Bahamas.
Open Data Standard for automatic exchange of recreational water quality data.
recreationalwater.ca
Swim Drink Fish Canada
Swim Guide 3.3 Android
Swim Guide 3.3 iOS
Contact(s)
Omid Razavi
Communications and Marketing Manager
Swim Drink Fish Canada
omid@swimdrinkfish.ca
1-416-861-1237
