Released on July 11, 2019
Saskatchewan residents are now able to check out the water quality at their local beaches before making the trek to the shore. Starting this week, the Ministry of Health will begin publicly posting the results of the Healthy Beach Monitoring Program, which collects data to monitor and identify trends in water quality and beach safety.“By having this information easily accessible, public beach goers can make themselves aware of potential water quality issues and stay safe this summer,” Zoonotic/Environmental Health Consultant Nicole White said. “This will help people make informed decisions about their in-water activities when visiting our lakes. It’s important to note that even if poor water quality is reported at a specific location, people can still enjoy activities such as canoeing, sailing and boating.”
This year the program is monitoring 67 public swimming areas across the province - private beaches are not included in this report. Water quality issues such as blue-green algae and poor water quality will be captured in the report and conditions will be designated as safe, caution or swimming advisory issued as below.
Reports will be posted at www.saskatchewan.ca/healthy-beaches on Mondays until September.
“It’s important to note that local closures can happen evenings or weekends and may not be immediately reflected in the report,” White said. “Residents are always encouraged to follow notifications posted on the beach.”
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For more information, contact:
Shelley Svedahl
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: Media@health.gov.sk.ca