'Results' indicate parts per 100mL. Health Canada's guideline for issuing a swimming advisory is over 200 E.coli/100mL.
The Ontario guideline used to be more stringent - 100 E.coli/100 mL - but that was changed in 2018 to match the Federal guideline. There is a dispute about the safety of the current level, and the City of Toronto has stuck to the former Provincial guideline and closes beaches at 100 E.coli/100 mL.
This year, Wayne Bland volunteered to collect the water samples, which we all appreciate. He went out August 7 and, following the pattern established by our Water Steward, Dave Dolson, in previous years, he collected from 23 locations. Lab costs were funded by the Miller Lake Community Group; analysis by ALS Labs of Waterloo.
For the most part, readings were much better than the last analysis in 2019. In the previous survey, E.coli levels at the northeast end of the lake were bordering on unsafe. Those levels are greatly improved from 2 years ago. The opposite end of the lake now has the highest E.coli counts, but they are not beyond the threshold.
Disclaimer: These samples indicate one point in time and do not guarantee safety, since water-fowl can contaminate water at any time.
To check the 2021 E.coli levels at your property, find your location on the map below and refer to the chart provided. The chart also lists the previous year's sample in your area.
We continue to monitor E.coli levels in order to locate septic or run-off problems.