If you’re planning on heading to the beach over the long weekend, you may want to reconsider this beach in Owen Sound. Grey Bruce Public Health says Kelso Beach at Nawash Park is currently unsafe for swimming after routine water samples showed high levels of bacteria, exceeding the standards for the Ontario Ministry of Health. Officials say people and pets shouldn’t swim or play in the water. For those wishing to still cool off at the park, the health unit says the splash pad is a good option as the advisory does not affect it as the water from the splash pad is from municipal, treated water. The washrooms are also safe to use. Even though the timing isn’t ideal ahead of a weekend when many people plan on enjoying the region’s waterfronts, officials want the public to respect the advisory. “While we know this swim advisory will be an inconvenience to some, especially during the August long weekend, we ask that residents and visitors respect this advisory as people are at an increased risk of getting sick or an infection when bacterial levels in beach water exceed Ontario guidelines,” says Senior Public Health Manager Andrew Barton. Some of those illnesses include gastrointestinal illnesses and skin, eye, ear, nose and throat infections. The health unit says it plans on taking more samples early next week.
