Frequently Asked Questions

Are all Provincial Park beaches tested?

A “Water Monitoring Protocol for Provincial Park Beaches” (Protocol) has been established which includes an evaluation of all Provincial Park beaches. The following beaches were reviewed and the frequency of monitoring determined for each:

The Protocol requires all beaches to follow the same process:

• Water samples collected from 5 different locations at each beach
• Water samples sent to accredited lab for analysis
• Results compared to the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality to determine if the water is “Suitable for Swimming” or if a “No Swimming” advisory will be issued
• Signage placed at key locations within the Provincial Park
• All water quality results, and current beach status, will be publicly available online at beaches.gnb.ca

Why are the other Provincial Park beaches sampled at different frequencies, when Parlee Beach is sampled daily?

The Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality recommend monitoring of swimming waters at a minimum frequency of once per week during the swimming season, with increased monitoring recommended for beaches that are highly frequented. Similarly, under certain scenarios, a reduction in the recommended sampling frequency may be justified. Given that approximately 350,000 people visit Parlee Beach each year, a sampling frequency of 7 days per week is appropriate.

As recommended by the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality, an Environmental Health and Safety Survey (EHSS) was completed at all Provincial Park beaches. The beaches and frequencies were based on risk assessments conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health using information obtained from these Environmental Health and Safety Surveys.

Are other beaches in New Brunswick tested?

While some samples are collected at some beaches, there is no formal recreational water monitoring program in New Brunswick. The locations sampled are typically public beaches that Regional Health Protection offices have identified as being popular recreational destinations.

Based on a risk assessment conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, beach monitoring was not required at Herring Cove, Anchorage and Fundy Trail Parkway. The rationale is that the water is extremely cold, the areas are well flushed and people do not generally swim at these locations. This is fully in accordance with the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality which recommend that an Environmental Health and Safety Survey be completed, which acknowledge that under certain scenarios a reduction in the recommended sampling frequency of once per week may be justified. 

Who ensures beach water quality is monitored at Provincial Park beaches?

The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health is responsible for ensuring that the Protocol is in place and up to date. The Department of Environment and Local Government is responsible for the oversight of sample collection and ensuring that proper training on collecting samples is provided. Only personnel that have received proper training are allowed to collect water samples at these beaches. The water samples are then sent to an accredited laboratory for analysis. The results are compared to the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality to determine if the water is “Suitable for Swimming” or if a “No Swimming” advisory will be issued 

What bacteria does the province test for at Provincial Park beaches?

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most appropriate indicator of faecal contamination in fresh recreational waters, and enterococci is the most appropriate indicator of faecal contamination in marine recreational waters. Therefore, the indicator bacteria monitored at a particular beach depends on whether or not the beach has fresh water or marine water. E. coli and enterococci were tested for at Parlee Beach and Murray Beach in the past, and for historical reasons, both bacteria will continue to be monitored.

What is considered a safe level of bacteria in recreational water?

The Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality have established guideline values that strike a balance between potential health risks and the benefits of recreational water use in terms of physical activity and enjoyment. There is always a slight risk of health effects when swimming, just as there are risks associated with other common activities, such as driving your car.

The Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality consider the water safe for swimming when bacteria levels are below the guideline values listed in the table below. In these cases the water is open and suitable for swimming.

If any of the guideline values below are exceeded, it is no longer considered an acceptable risk, and the public is warned that the water is not suitable for swimming. 

What does a “No Swimming” advisory mean?  Am I still allowed to swim?

A “No Swimming” advisory means that the bacterial levels found in the water exceed the guidelines values established in the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality.

The beach is not closed, and it does not mean that you will get sick if you swim during an advisory. However, swimming in waters with bacteria levels above the Guideline Values increase the risk of illness beyond everyday levels. However, there are always things that you can do to protect yourself while enjoying recreational waters. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health recommends avoiding swallowing water, putting open sores or wounds in the water, and washing your hands before eating.

The beach would only be closed to the public where evidence suggests that continued operation poses a significant public health risk, such as a chemical spill in the water or on the beach.

Will I get sick if I recently swam in waters where there is now a warning?

Swimming in waters with bacteria levels above the Guideline Values does not mean that you will get sick, but it increases the risk beyond everyday levels. The level of risk will depend on for how long and by how much the Guideline values are exceeded.  

Possible health risks of swimming in water with a high Enterococci or E. coli count could include gastrointestinal upset, skin irritation or infection, upper respiratory illness.

What should I do if I think I am getting sick?

You can get sick from a variety of exposures in your environment (contact with other sick people, contaminated food, contaminated environments etc). If you experience symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, fever, abdominal cramps or rash that are not resolving you should seek attention from a health professional.

How can the water be rated as safe one day and unsafe the next? Why does it change?

Due to a combination of many factors, it is common to find E. coli and Enterococci bacteria in surface water and it is normal for these levels to fluctuate. Certain environmental conditions and other sources including discharged sewage, storm water runoff, animal waste, and other swimmers can play a role in influencing water quality.

Why is a No Swimming Advisory no longer issued due to rainfall at Parlee Beach?

Since 2001, rainfall levels that exceeded 10mm within a 24 hour period automatically triggered a “poor” rating at Parlee Beach. Based on evidence collected in 2017 and 2018 beach seasons, this has been discontinued in 2019.  Public Health considered it important to initially include this information in the Parlee Beach Water Quality Monitoring Protocol that was established in 2017 until more evidence for another evaluation could be gathered.  Data shows that rainfall as a sole indicator has not been a reliable predictor of water quality at Parlee Beach.  In addition, the evidence revealed that the overall water quality at Parlee Beach is good and that any exceedance of a guideline value is temporary, with water quality quickly returning to normal levels.  For this reason, precautionary rainfall advisories have been discontinued.  Daily water quality samples will still be collected with all results publicly available at gnb.ca/beaches.

How long does it take for the water samples to be tested and analyzed?

Once samples are collected, it takes about 24 hours to receive results. Samples must be correctly labelled, packed and transported to the laboratory. Once received at the laboratory, the samples must be registered, prepared and analyzed. Results are then documented and compared to the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality. 

Why are some sampling results missing on certain days?

On occasion, the collection of all required samples may not be possible due to weather/environmental conditions, safety concerns or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control. In these situations, results will be reported in the above table as blank, and the most recently available data will be used to determine the current beach status.

Why doesn’t RPC use the same analytical method to test for E. coli at the Moncton and Fredericton locations?

The RPC laboratories in Moncton and Fredericton use different analytical methods to test for E. coli. This is due to historical reasons. In the past, both locations operated independently so the lab equipment, test methods and analyst training requirements are different.  RPC determined several years ago that there was no need for both locations to use the same test method, given the cost associated with purchasing new equipment and training staff and the fact that clients were accustomed to receiving results using the current method.  Both laboratories are accredited and both methods provide appropriate results that are essentially equivalent.

What is the difference between the units of “CFU” and “MPN”?

CFU stands for 'Colony Forming Units' and refers to the number of viable bacterial cells in a sample per unit of volume. MPN stands for 'Most Probable Number' and refers to an analysis that uses dilution methodology and a probability calculation to determine a statistical estimate of the number of viable cells in a given volume of sample. The two units of measure are widely accepted and used in water quality monitoring programs. The results between the two are essentially equivalent.

Who can I contact if I have any questions or concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns about the water quality monitoring or testing at New Brunswick’s beaches, please contact the Department of Health.