Ottawa Public Health shifts beach water testing from daily to weekly, citing science and delays—critics call it risky and demand reinstatement of daily tests.
Health Officials Shift to Weekly Testing
Starting June 21, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) will reduce water quality testing at city beaches from daily to weekly, citing a desire to align with provincial standards. The decision follows a review of the agency’s beach water monitoring program and has sparked public concern over swimmer safety during the summer season.
Safety Rationale Behind the Change
According to Matthew Ruf, Safe Food and Water Program Manager at OPH, the daily test results were not “real-time” due to 24-hour lab processing delays. He emphasized the importance of environmental cues—such as recent rainfall, cloudy water, algae, or dead fish—as more immediate and reliable indicators of unsafe swimming conditions.
Critics Warn of Increased Health Risks
Laura Reinsborough, Executive Director of Ottawa Riverkeeper, sharply criticized the change, calling it a “huge step backwards.” She warned that reducing the frequency of testing could lead to greater exposure to harmful bacteria like E. coli, especially when visual surveys are relied on without lab-confirmed data.
Data Analysis Raises False Risk Concerns
Reinsborough cited her organization’s analysis of three years of data showing that a switch to weekly testing would produce an estimated 20% rate of inaccurate safety assessments. This could lead to beaches either being closed on safe days or open on unsafe ones, undermining public trust in beach advisories.
Public Demands Transparency and Action
In response, Ottawa Riverkeeper launched a petition to reinstate daily testing, garnering over 400 signatures in under 48 hours. The group argues that maintaining daily data is essential to help residents make informed decisions about when it is safe to swim, particularly during the busy summer months.
Water Safety Still a Priority, Says OPH
Despite criticism, OPH maintains that 85% of test results meet safety standards for E. coli. Officials believe that enhancing public awareness about non-testing risk factors will encourage residents to make more holistic safety decisions. However, they have not ruled out revisiting the policy if public concern persists.
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