GULL LAKE BEACH SWIM ADVISORY THURSDAY COULD AFFECT WEEKEND ONTARIO SWIM COMPETITIONS

GRAVENHURST — A swim advisory today for Gull Lake could affect this weekend’s Swim Ontario Open Water Championships.

The town and the health unit say that based on water samples collected yesterday, July 13, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is recommending that Gull Lake Rotary Park (405 Brock St.) be posted a second time in a week with swim advisory signage.

The last advisory a week ago on July 7 was quickly lifted this past Tuesday, July 12, when numbers dropped.

But yesterday they went back up, possibly due to recent rainfall.

Swim Ontario, which is celebrating 100 years, plans to hold their open water championships this weekend at Gull Lake Rotary Park in Gravenhurst. They are expected to do their own testing the next 24 hours before proceeding. They were unavailable for comment late Thursday afternoon.

Hundreds of swimmers are expected to take to the waters July 16-17.

Town spokesperson Jason Harnett says this afternoon that he spoke with recreation department staff who believe Swim Ontario officials will be doing their testing and could move competitions further out into deeper water where numbers may be lower.

He said Swim Ontario will likely to their own testing in the next 24 hours and decide whether to inform swimmers to come or not.

They were unavailable for comment late this afternoon.

Harnett said the water sample numbers aren’t significantly higher than acceptable and the advisory is not an order not to swim.

Last week they were around 600 E. coli per 100 mL, which exceeds the provincial standard of 200 E. coli per 100 mL.

Generally swim advisories don’t mean “don’t swim” — just don’t go head-first into the water and open your eyes or mouth. Certainly if you have cuts or open sores beware, too.

In the meantime the beach will remain open till Friday night for public swimming.

Wednesday’s health unit geometric mean of sample collected from the beach was 212 E. coli per 100 mL.

As such the town, in partnership with SMDHU, will continue to monitor all municipal beaches and water quality and further advise the public should there be any concerns.

For additional information on beach water testing, please visit the SMDHU website: www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/Topics/SafeWater/BeachWater/BeachPostings

Also see more on the town’s beaches at www.gravenhurst.ca/beaches.

Swim advisory signage was up today a second time in week at the Gull Lake Rotary Park beach. Last Thursday’s advisory was lifted Tuesday and re-issued two days later.
Swim Ontario could move their competitions into deeper water at Gull Lake where numbers may be lower.
Life guards Chloe Dias, left, Emily Smith and Maddie Baker were on duty Thursday afternoon, where there were a few swimmers. They have been on the job since July 1 and work 7 days a week while providing lessons Monday to Friday.