Pool Safety
Cedar Springs has enjoyed a natural swimming venue for more than 75 years with the damming each summer of Twelve Mile Creek coincident with the end of the fish spawning season. The sand beach is a gathering point for kids and families alike with some members gathering informally for pot luck Sunday night dinners at the finish of many summer weekends. The accompanying basketball courts, the natural falls under the dam and river rafting add to the enjoyment.
During core hours in the summer a lifeguard is on duty although it remains the responsibility of parents to supervise their children.
Like any natural habitat our “ pool” is subject to the environment surrounding it and despite internal community efforts to mitigate these impacts the pool is subject to spikes in E.coli . The community monitors the levels and post these so members can use their discretion as to when to swim. As might be expected levels are often highest after a rainstorm when runoff is experienced from upstream and this can take one to three days to clear depending on the degree of rain.
Members should review the following information in deciding whether or not to swim in the pool and to minimize the risks of doing so. Each member should make his own decision as swimming within Cedar Springs is done at your own risk and the Club assumes no liability for any health or physical injuries caused by using the pool.
At Cedar Springs we adhere to the Government of Ontario standard of an E. Coli reading of 100 or less as a recommended level for safe swimming at our beach and as an appropriate measure for community-sanctioned functions such as the annual Sports Day. The beach may not be safe for swimming when an average of greater than 100 E.coli bacteria per 100 mL water were present in the latest samples posted at the beach. Illness can occur if water contaminated with E.coli is swallowed, enters ears, eyes, or nose, or comes in contact with open wounds. Water samples are analyzed for Escherchia coli (E.coli). E.coli bacteria are an indicator of fecal contamination from human and animal sources.
The main factors that affect our bathing water quality are run-off from storms, rains, geese droppings, high temperatures, wildlife and livestock feces, septic pollution, and kids peeing in the pool. These factors may affect the bacteriological quality of the water after the latest sample date. Our testing equipment requires 24 hours to obtain the E.Coli result from the water sample. The beach water status is only representative of the water quality on the date sampled. Bathing water quality can quickly change due to environmental and weather conditions. We have found by testing that the high E. Coli levels after heavy rain take two to three days to return to a safe level. See historical test results: Ecoli Results to July 23.pdf
Human and animal waste carries pathogens (bacteria and viruses) that may cause illness. Young children, the elderly and those with depressed immune systems are most susceptible to infection. The Ontario environment ministry calculates a 1.5 per cent chance of becoming ill from water contaminated by E.coli at a 200 level. Health problems are almost assured when the count reaches 400. (The water has to be swallowed; the bacteria aren’t absorbed through the skin.) It can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache and low fever along with rashes and ear, nose and throat infections.
Most strains of E.coli are harmless (i.e. it does not usually cause disease), but some strains (including O157:H7) can be toxic, causing serious illness. There are thousands of different strains of E.coli. Fortunately very few strains are pathogenic (causes disease). We do not test for specific strains of E.coli, such as O157, the sub-species responsible for the deaths of seven people and illness for thousands of others in Walkerton when rainwater tainted from a cattle farm field seeped into the public drinking water supply. However, E.coli O157 is common in cows, chickens, pigs, dogs, cats and birds and enters the environment through feces so beaches in rural areas are more susceptible.
If a high density of E.coli is present, then it is assumed that other pathogens (i.e. bacteria and viruses that cause disease, such as Salmonella, Streptococci, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Enterovirus) associated with human and animal waste could be present in the water and pose a risk to swimmers.
A new study by researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey conducted experiments with sand collected from a beach on the shore of Lake Michigan near Chicago and found sand contained E.Coli levels 10 to 100 times higher than beach water. See this Article.
See also these resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/what.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dfwed/index.html
During core hours in the summer a lifeguard is on duty although it remains the responsibility of parents to supervise their children.
Like any natural habitat our “ pool” is subject to the environment surrounding it and despite internal community efforts to mitigate these impacts the pool is subject to spikes in E.coli . The community monitors the levels and post these so members can use their discretion as to when to swim. As might be expected levels are often highest after a rainstorm when runoff is experienced from upstream and this can take one to three days to clear depending on the degree of rain.
Members should review the following information in deciding whether or not to swim in the pool and to minimize the risks of doing so. Each member should make his own decision as swimming within Cedar Springs is done at your own risk and the Club assumes no liability for any health or physical injuries caused by using the pool.
At Cedar Springs we adhere to the Government of Ontario standard of an E. Coli reading of 100 or less as a recommended level for safe swimming at our beach and as an appropriate measure for community-sanctioned functions such as the annual Sports Day. The beach may not be safe for swimming when an average of greater than 100 E.coli bacteria per 100 mL water were present in the latest samples posted at the beach. Illness can occur if water contaminated with E.coli is swallowed, enters ears, eyes, or nose, or comes in contact with open wounds. Water samples are analyzed for Escherchia coli (E.coli). E.coli bacteria are an indicator of fecal contamination from human and animal sources.
The main factors that affect our bathing water quality are run-off from storms, rains, geese droppings, high temperatures, wildlife and livestock feces, septic pollution, and kids peeing in the pool. These factors may affect the bacteriological quality of the water after the latest sample date. Our testing equipment requires 24 hours to obtain the E.Coli result from the water sample. The beach water status is only representative of the water quality on the date sampled. Bathing water quality can quickly change due to environmental and weather conditions. We have found by testing that the high E. Coli levels after heavy rain take two to three days to return to a safe level. See historical test results: Ecoli Results to July 23.pdf
Human and animal waste carries pathogens (bacteria and viruses) that may cause illness. Young children, the elderly and those with depressed immune systems are most susceptible to infection. The Ontario environment ministry calculates a 1.5 per cent chance of becoming ill from water contaminated by E.coli at a 200 level. Health problems are almost assured when the count reaches 400. (The water has to be swallowed; the bacteria aren’t absorbed through the skin.) It can cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache and low fever along with rashes and ear, nose and throat infections.
Most strains of E.coli are harmless (i.e. it does not usually cause disease), but some strains (including O157:H7) can be toxic, causing serious illness. There are thousands of different strains of E.coli. Fortunately very few strains are pathogenic (causes disease). We do not test for specific strains of E.coli, such as O157, the sub-species responsible for the deaths of seven people and illness for thousands of others in Walkerton when rainwater tainted from a cattle farm field seeped into the public drinking water supply. However, E.coli O157 is common in cows, chickens, pigs, dogs, cats and birds and enters the environment through feces so beaches in rural areas are more susceptible.
If a high density of E.coli is present, then it is assumed that other pathogens (i.e. bacteria and viruses that cause disease, such as Salmonella, Streptococci, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Enterovirus) associated with human and animal waste could be present in the water and pose a risk to swimmers.
A new study by researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey conducted experiments with sand collected from a beach on the shore of Lake Michigan near Chicago and found sand contained E.Coli levels 10 to 100 times higher than beach water. See this Article.
See also these resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/what.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dfwed/index.html
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Lifeguard and Swimming Safety
In 2003, to comply with requirements of our liability insurance underwriter:
Keep a couple of things in mind when soaking up the sun and swimming at the beach.
In 2009, the Board set out these Beach Rules
- A lifeguard was hired for the core swimming hours seven days a week.
- We removed the diving board.
- We informed the community in a written communication of their obligation regarding the swimming area and the role of the lifeguard.
- We posted signage stating "No Swimming Unless a Lifeguard is On Duty"
Keep a couple of things in mind when soaking up the sun and swimming at the beach.
- Please no glass on the beach.
- Don't swim alone.If your child is under 6 - a parent should be within arm’s reach.
- No rough housing.
- Respect the lifeguard on duty.
- Be cautious when jumping off the dam as the lifeguards are not responsible for the backside of the dam.
- Diving can be dangerous. Be aware that the lack of clarity of the water means that the lifeguard cannot see below the surface water to the creek bottom. - Avoid swallowing pool water while swimming
In 2009, the Board set out these Beach Rules
- Parents are responsible for their children at the beach despite the presence of the lifeguard.
- Swimmers require a deep water swim test; please see the lifeguard.
- Children age 5 years and under require a life preserver unless deep water swim test results indicate otherwise.
- If hiring a babysitter please ensure that they are properly trained in water life saving skills. Children in the water need to be within arms length of a responsible care provider.
- Please remember that glass bottles are not allowed on the beach.