In 2017 Swim Drink Fish staff monitored freshwater quality at Breakwater Park and at the Wolfe Island Boat Club on Wolfe Island during the summer months, from July 1st to August 31st. This monitoring program is a Swimmable Water Restoration Project, funded by the Weston Family Great Lakes Challenge. The purpose of the program is to gather a baseline of data regarding recreational water quality at these two popular swimming sites. Swim Drink Fish Canada has chosen to share our test results with the public through Swim Guide. Please note that KFL&A samples Breakwater Park on a weekly basis. Our monitoring of Breakwater Park does not supercede the regional monitoring program. Rather, are results are meant to help build a baseline of data for this popular city swim spot.
Samples were collected on a weekly basis, every Wednesday, as well as after a heavy rainfall, or after a combined sewer overflow (CSO). Samples are taken to a local environmental lab, Caduceon, for processing and analysis.
Water is sampled for E. coli at all sites. Beaches in Ontario are posted when the geometric mean of 5 samples collected within a given swimming area and within a 30-day period exceeds 100 E.coli / 100 ml of water. A Ministry of the Environment procedure says that a clean beach meets water quality criteria at least 95% of the swimming season, even if it is near a sewage pipe.
Test results are expressed as E.coli cfu (colony forming units) per 100 ml.
A beach is marked Green when geometric mean of 5 samples results are equal or below 100 E.coli cfu/ 100 ML water.
A beach is marked Red when the geometric mean concentration (minimum of five samples) is equal to or above 100 E.coli cfu/ 100 ML water, according to Ontario’s water quality guidelines.
A beach is marked Grey when there are no current results or there is no available information.
Results are posted as soon as lab results are available, typically about 24 hours after samples are collected. Results will be communicated through Swim Guide. Results are also posted at the Wolfe Island Boat Club. To see a full sample results’ tables visit the Lake Ontario Waterkeeper website. Results are also available by email at contact@theswimguide.org or by calling The Swim Guide +1 (416) 861-1237.
In addition to Swim Guide, remember to visit Kingston Uitilities “Know Before You Go” to find out whether there has been a combined sewer overflow (CSO) or sewage bypass. Always avoid the water 48 hours after heavy rains.
Questions? Reach out to us directly by clicking our link (beside the beach name).