Chill in the air aside, there’s another reason to give swimming at several of Innisfil’s public beaches a second thought.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit posted a swimming advisory at Innisfil Beach Park South (676 Innisfil Beach Rd.) Aug. 21, due to high bacteria counts found during routine inspection and water-sample collection. That’s in addition to Bon Secours (2407 Leonard St.) and Leonard’s (2715 Purvis St.) beaches being under similar advisories since Aug. 7.
During a swimming advisory, the beach is posted with warning signs indicating that the most recent water samples showed bacteria in numbers that may increase the risk of developing minor skin, eye, ear, nose or throat infections, or stomach illness. Anyone who chooses to swim during an advisory should avoid dunking their head or swallowing the water.
It is important to note, however, that this is not a beach closure, which is considered much rarer and only happens when a significant risk to health and safety has been identified, such as a sewage or chemical spill, the health unit says.
As well, the pond at Centennial Park (2870 7th Line) has been affected by a blue-green algae bloom since Aug. 16.
Technically known as cyanobacteria, this algae consists of microscopic organisms that naturally occur in waterbodies. They usually present in low numbers but can rapidly increase and form dense blooms when the water is warm, slow moving and full of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, the health unit says.
A bloom may appear green, blue, turquoise or olive green in colour. It could also look like scum, foam, mats or paint floating on the water’s surface, and smell like rotting plants or garbage, or rotten eggs.
This is the second such bloom confirmed in town this summer — a large one affected the southeast shoreline of Kempenfelt Bay (Bear Point area) and the southwest shoreline of Lake Simcoe (Innisfil Beach Park area) for part of July.
More information on beach postings and algae blooms can be found at simcoemuskokahealth.org.
