Ontario Water Alerts
Ontario campers urged to check park water alerts before weekend trips
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Ontario campers heading out this weekend face a patchwork of water alerts across the provincial park system. A Boil Water Advisory remains in effect at three Algonquin Provincial Park campgrounds — Lake of Two Rivers, Mew Lake, and Pog Lake — after treatment facility irregularities were flagged on June 2, according to Ontario Parks.
Beyond Algonquin, beaches at Pinery Provincial Park and Lakeview Park West Beach in Essex County are also under warnings. Health officials are urging campers to check the Ontario Parks website alerts tab before leaving home. Conditions can change within hours after rainfall.
Algonquin's Aging Water Systems Are Failing Again
The boil water advisory covering Algonquin's Hwy 60 corridor is not a one-off. Park superintendents say the campground water treatment facilities are old and strain under peak-season demand. Officials are telling campers to bring bottled water or boil any lake water for at least one full minute before drinking it.
Lake Ontario's water levels are also adding pressure across the region. As of early June, levels sit 35 centimetres above the 10-year seasonal average, according to TPR Hamilton. That pushes agricultural and urban runoff into beach areas, which directly spikes E. coli counts at swimming sites.
E. Coli and Blue-Green Algae Warnings Hit Southwestern Beaches
On June 5, health officials in Essex County found E. coli levels above the provincial safety limit of 200 bacteria per 100 millilitres at Lakeview Park West Beach, according to CTV News. Pinery Provincial Park posted a beach warning the following week after its own elevated bacteria readings.
Cara Robinson, Program Manager for Healthy Environments at Southwestern Public Health, warned that "water conditions change frequently based on weather patterns." She added that lab results often take 48 hours to come back — meaning posted warnings can lag behind actual conditions, according to Blackburn News.
Blue-Green Algae Carries a Risk Boiling Cannot Fix
Health officials stress that blue-green algae, also called BGA, is more dangerous than a standard boil water advisory. Boiling water kills bacteria — but it does not remove cyanotoxins, the poisons that BGA releases. These toxins are especially harmful to pets and young children.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has flagged BGA as the highest health risk this season. If a beach has a BGA posting, swimming and even wading should be avoided entirely. Officials say to look for water that appears green, blue-green, or has a paint-like scum on the surface, according to St. Catharines Standard.
How to Check Alerts Before You Leave the Driveway
Ontario Parks runs a live alerts page on its website. Campers can filter by park name to find active drinking water and beach advisories. Officials recommend checking it no more than 30 minutes before departure, since postings can go up overnight after heavy rain.
Southwestern Public Health resumed its 2026 seasonal beach testing program on June 11, covering sites including Port Burwell and Port Glasgow. That testing data also feeds into local health unit websites. With temperatures expected to rise this weekend, park and health officials say more advisories could be issued by Friday evening, according to St. Catharines Standard.
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