The Windsor Essex County Health Unit will begin water sampling at eight local beaches this week.
Water will be tested at Belle River Beach, Cedar Beach, Cedar Island Beach, Colchester Beach, Holiday Beach, Point Pelee North West Beach, Sandpoint Beach, and Seacliff Beach once a week throughout the summer.
The Mettawas Beach will not be tested this year as it is no longer designated as a public beach.
Sampling will take place every Monday [or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday]. The results will be posted to the health unit's website by Tuesday or Wednesday of the same week starting June 12, 2023.
If a beach is closed due to high E. coli levels, the beach will be resampled on Wednesday, with results posted by Friday.
During the summer of 2022, there were 41 warnings issued and 13 closures due to high levels of E.coli. The bacteria can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.
