Algoma Public Health samples weekly from mid-June to the end of August. Official sampling results are unavailable for this region. The beaches are monitored, but the actual sampling schedule and the sample results are unknown, except in the case of a recreational water quality advisory. Sampling dates and results are necessary for Lake Ontario Waterkeeper to enter the data into Swim Guide. Swimming advisories with dates are shared with the public on Swim Guide. If no advisory has been made, it is most likely that those beaches have passed standards for swimming. However, because we cannot specify a sample date or confirm the result we are unfortunately unable to update Swim Guide with data.

Algoma Public Health posts on their website a map showing current conditions of beaches. Please visit http://www.algomapublichealth.com/inspections-environment/recreational-water/beach-warnings/ for the latest information.

As of 2018, Ontario beaches are following the Operational Approaches for Recreational Water Guideline, 2018, and the Recreational Water Protocol, 2018, for geometric mean and single-sample maximum parameters. These are now equivalent to those set out in the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality – Third Edition, 2012: Geometric mean concentration (minimum of five samples) below 200 E. coli/100 mL Single-sample maximum concentration below 400 E. coli/100 mL (These values replace the previous, more stringent Ontario standard: a geometric mean of greater than 100 E. coli/100 mL.). Historical data from 2018 onward reflect the new Ontario Operational Approaches for Recreational Water Guideline, 2018: Geometric mean concentration of 200 E. coli/ 100 mL and single-sample maximum concentration of 400 E. coli /100 mL.

A beach is marked Green when the geometric mean of 5 samples collected within a 30-day period is below 200 E. coli / 100 ml of water and the single sample value is below 400 E.coli/100mL.

A beach is marked Red when the geometric mean of 5 samples collected within a 30-day period exceeds 200 E. coli / 100 ml of water and/or exceeds the single sample value of 400 E.coli/100mL.

A beach is marked by Grey when reliable or up-to-date information is not available. DISCLAIMER: Historical data from 2017 and prior reflect the previous Ontario standard of a geometric mean of greater than 100 E. coli /100 mL.

The Ministry of the Environment F-5-5 Procedure says that a clean beach is open at least 95% of the swimming season, even if it is near a sewage pipe or combined sewer outfall. This rule applies to every place that is public, accessible, and feels like a good place to swim. When all else fails, the Ontario Environmental Protection Act strongly states that no one can interfere with the use that you can make of a public waterway - like swimming!