Swim advisory lifted for Port Elgin Main Beach, Southampton Beach

Grey Bruce Public Health is advising the public that test results from water samples taken Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, at Port Elgin Main Beach and Southampton Beach show E.coli bacterial levels have returned to within the guidelines established by Ontario’s Ministry of Health as safe for swimming/bathing.

As a result, Grey Bruce Public Health has lifted the swim advisories for the beaches.

“As we’re headed into the weekend, this is great news! We’d like to extend our appreciation to the residents and visitors who adhered to the swimming advisories,” says Senior Public Health Manager Chimere Okoronkwo.

Port Elgin Main Beach and Southampton Beach were posted as unsafe for swimming on August 18, after routine water-sampling results showed bacterial levels exceeding Ministry of Health standards for swimming/bathing.

People who swim, play in, or use beach water with high bacterial levels are at an increased risk of getting sick or an infection.

Grey Bruce Public Health reminds the public to always use their best judgment before swimming or allowing children to play in the water as outdoor water quality can change from day to day or even hour to hour depending on the weather and other conditions.

To help assess water quality in real time, consider these questions:

• Is the beach posted with a warning sign?
• Has there been a heavy rainfall in the past 24 to 48 hours?
• Is the water so cloudy that you cannot see your feet at adult waist depth?
• Are there any other concerns at the beach, such as a large number of waterfowl, dead fish, algae or scum, dangerous debris, or other visible issues?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, Public Health recommends NOT swimming.

GBPH has also developed a dedicated webpage about beach water safety and GBPH’s beach monitoring program. It can be found at the following link: Recreational Water.