In high unattractive boots with an extended pole and a sterile bottle, public health inspector students all over the city are testing Hamilton and Halton beaches.

Hamilton public health tests eight beaches and Halton Region tests seven. Out of those 15, only two are currently labelled as unsafe; Coronation Park West in Oakville and Bayfront Park beach in Hamilton.

As per Ontario Ministry of the Environment regulations, beaches must be tested at least once a week. In Hamilton, Bayfront and Pier 4 are tested four times a week.

The harbour beaches are tested more often because of the large population of waterfowl and historically those beaches have had a high population of contaminants, such as Escherichia coli, or E. coli. For a beach to be safe there must be less than 100 E. coli bacterium per 100 mL of beach water.

E. coli can indicate other bacteria and viruses are present in the water, said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, an associate medical officer of health for the City of Hamilton. Beach water can contain germs such as bacteria, viruses and parasites which can cause diarrhea, fever and respiratory infections in swimmers.

Nicole Mathews, manager of healthy environments for the Halton Region, said that E. coli is a big problem in Oakville.

I dont know why they have more geese, said Mathews. They seem to be attracted there.

Goose droppings are one of the biggest issues to any beach but especially the bay beaches because they are sheltered from the wind and strong current.

The geese and the sewer water are the main reasons why a beach would be marked unsafe. When it rains, the waste droppings naturally run off into the water.

Its important to know that entering the water itself isnt the issue, but its swallowing the water, said Meghani. Taking in E. coli can cause diarrhea, fever, and respiratory issues but rarely death.

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Keeping the beaches safe and swimmable