City of Hamilton to Stop Posting Safe/Unsafe for Swimming Signs at Beaches – TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site

March 17, 2022
Hamilton City Hall states it will no longer post “safe for swimming” or “unsafe for swimming” signs at Hamilton’s seven public open water swimming beaches.
“Changing or “flipping” on-site signs is not required under the Protocol and impacts internal/external staff resources and creates an unfavourable image of City of Hamilton public beaches,” writes the City of Hamilton’s Director of Healthy Environments Kevin McDonald in an information update to City Council.
Ontario’s Recreational Beach Water Protocol requires the City of Hamilton to conduct weekly water quality testing at public beaches.
The Protocol requires results “be posted on the board of health’s website in a location that is easily accessible to the public immediately as they become available.”
The Protocol does not require posting the results anywhere else, including using signage at beaches. This is why the City plans to remove existing safe/unsafe signs that are changed weekly depending on E.coli levels at the beaches.
City staff write Hamilton is the only region in the area with weekly signage at beaches.
“Surrounding Public Health Units post permanent signage at public beaches informing the public of conditions that can increase bacteria levels and direct the public to their websites for up-to-date beach status information,” McDonald writes.
The new signs state factors that can cause E.coli levels to raise and encourage people to visit the City of Hamilton website.
Hamilton’s seven public open water swimming areas: Beach Boulevard, Van Wagner’s and Confederation Park Beaches along Lake Ontario; Binbrook, Christie and Valens Conservation Area beaches, and Pier 4 Park Beach in Hamilton Harbour.
The public can comment to City Council on the change until 12:00 noon on Friday, March 18 by emailing the Board of Health legislative assistant, Loren Kolar, Loren.Kolar@hamilton.ca.
UPDATE: Council voted to request Public Health staff not remove the signs.