AUGUST 22 EDITOR'S NOTE: The swim advisory for the Port Elgin Main Beach and the Southampton Beach has been lifted as the E.coli bacterial levels have returned to normal guidelines. The water has again been deemed suitable for swimming.
In addition to posted warning signs, to help assess water quality in real time, officials suggest considering the following:
Has there been 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 other concerns such as a large number of waterfowl, dead fish, algae or scum, dangerous debris or other visible issues?
For up to date beach monitoring, click on the link at the bottom of this article.
Hub Staff | 21 August 2026
Port Elgin Main Beach and the Southampton Beach remain unsafe for swimming after water-sampling results showed bacterial levels exceeding Ontario Ministry standards.
Grey Bruce Public Health, in consultation with the Town posted the beaches unsafe on August 19 and at the time of publishing remained outside the acceptable range.
Further samples were to be taken Thursday but it yet unknown if those samples were deemed safe.
Residents and visits should continue to refrain from swimming or playing in the beach water until such time the water is again deemed safe.
For more information GBPH's beach monitoring, visit publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Your-Environment/Safe-Water/Recreational-Water#Monitoring.
