Cockburn Beach 2 (Sandy Bay)

Source Information

Swim Drink Fish staff, with the support of Zhiibaahaasing First Nation, monitor recreational water quality on Manitoulin and Cockburn Islands during the summer months. The guidelines followed are the Operational Approaches for Recreational Water Guideline, 2018, set by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Prior to 2018 beaches in Ontario were posted when the geometric mean of 5 samples collected within a 30-day period exceeded 100 E. coli / 100 mL of water, a standard derived from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks’ Provincial Water Quality Objectives. The water is sampled weekly. Gaanogwong Apgishmok is sampled consistently on Thursdays, with results available 24 hours after the samples are taken. The locations on Cockburn are only accessible by boat and sampling availability is subject to change due to weather. Beaches are posted when the geometric mean of 5 samples collected within a given swimming area and within a 30-day period exceeds 200 E. coli / 100 ml of water or when a single-sample maximum concentration exceeds 400 E. coli / 100 ml of water. Test results are expressed as Most Probable Number (MPN) of E.coli per 100 ml by using the IDEXX Quanti-Tray/2000 MPN Table. In accordance with Ontario’s provincial recreational water quality standard, a beach is marked Green when geometric mean of 5 samples results are equal or below 200 E.coli / 100 mL water and below the single sample criteria of 400 E.coli/100ml. A beach is marked Red when the geometric mean concentration (minimum of five samples) is above 200 E.coli / 100 mL or above the 400 E.coli/100mL for a single sample. 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. Results will be communicated through the Swim Guide website and apps. Results are also available through the Zhiibaahaasing community page on Facebook. Non-community members must contact the Zhiibaahaasing First Nation Band Office prior to visiting any of these beaches. For more information contact the Swim Drink Fish head office at 1-416-861-1237.