(File photo courtesy of © CanStockPhoto.com/thelatin10)(File photo courtesy of © CanStockPhoto.com/thelatin10)
London

Swimming not recommended at Port Stanley main, little beaches

Extreme heat has many people flocking to beaches, but there are three local spots swimmers will temporarily want to avoid.

Routine weekly water quality testing conducted by Southwestern Public Health has found Port Stanley's main and little beaches, as well as the beach at Port Burwell Provincial Park, have high levels of E.coli. bacteria. As such, the three beaches have been deemed unsafe for swimming.

Signs warning people to stay out of the water have been posted and will remain in place until future testing shows bacteria levels have subsided.

Choosing to swim in the water, despite the warning, can lead to minor skin, eye, ear, nose or throat infections or stomach illness, the health unit for Elgin and Oxford counties said. Symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

E.coli bacteria is an indicator there is human and/or animal fecal contamination present. The health unit noted that recent studies have suggested that waterfowl droppings are the number one contributor to increased E. coli levels in beach water. To help protect the water quality, people are advised not to feed ducks, geese, seagulls and other birds at the beach.

Warm and unsettled weather can also contribute to elevated bacteria levels.

"As a general guideline, the health unit recommends that people avoid swimming in the lake for 48 hours after a significant rainfall and/or high winds as this may increase the presence of disease-causing bacteria," Southwestern Public Health reminded.

All other beaches tested in the region have been deemed safe for swimming, including Port Stanley erie rest beach, Port Bruce, Port Burwell east beach, Port Glasgow, and Springwater Conservation Area.

The health unit's environmental health team began weekly testing of area public beaches for the season last week. The testing will continue until Labour Day weekend.

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