Predictive Modelling for Bathing Beaches - mise à jour

Ontario's public health units monitor beach water quality along the Great lakes as well as other recreational water sites. Traditionally this has been achieved by collecting water samples and basing decisions on whether or not to post as unsafe, on the results of bacterial analysis of these samples. This means that decisions on the suitability of the water for swimming are based on data that is 36-48 hours old. Detailed comparisons of beach closures with daily sampling results demonstrates the ineffectiveness of this system. Consequently, NPHD is monitoring selected beaches seven days/week, collecting water samples but also gathering data such as water temperature, turbidity, conductivity, wave height and waterfowl populations which, it is anticipated, will permit decisions on posting to made based on real-time information. Collaboration with Environment Canada and McMaster University to conduct analysis to assist in microbial source tracking and DNA testing is also being investigated.

NPHD recently received funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and in 2012, a buoy equipped with monitoring instrumentation and wireless capabilities will be moored in a selected bathing area. Bathing water samples will continue to be collected from this beach and it is anticipated that a correlation will be identified between elevated E.coli counts and specific climatic and/or environmental factors. It is expected that the eventual outcome for NRPH will be development of a decision support tool for determining the bacteriological status of recreational water in real-time. PHAC will then be able to scale the outcomes of this project for national application where other public health jurisdictions across Canada will be able to adopt this process.

Personne-ressource :
Bill Hunter, Manager, Environmental Health, Niagara Region Public Health
Courriel :  bill.hunter(at)niagararegion.ca
Téléphone : 905-688-3762