The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit has once again begun weekly water sampling of the area’s public bathing beaches. The beaches will be monitored weekly throughout the summer season until Aug 29. Every week a total of five water samples will be collected from each beach. The results will then be analyzed for the presence of E. coli bacteria. If the results exceed the bathing water standard, the beach will be posted with a “WARNING Unsafe for Bathing” sign indicating that the level of bacteria in the water may pose a risk to your health if you choose to swim. Bacterial water quality is one measurement used to determine water quality. Other variables are the presence of a blue green algae bloom, accidental spills that may pollute the water and any safety issue that could affect the health of swimmers. At any time if these factors are believed to have an impact on the beach’s safety, the beach will be posted as “Unsafe for Bathing”. This information will appear on www.healthunit.org and in radio reports. You can also follow the beach posting results at Lanark, Leeds Grenville Health Unit on Facebook and Twitter.