Predicting the environmental drivers of recreational water quality in Canada

NCCEH Environmental Health Webinar
February 29, 2024
Presenters: Johanna Sanchez and Binyam Desta
Poor recreational water quality poses a risk of acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) to beach goers engaging in water activities. In Canada, the concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) is regularly monitored by public health units to make risk management recommendations about beach water quality conditions. Laboratory processing times results in a delay in the availability of water sample results. As such, decisions about whether to post a beach as safe for swimming are based on previous day data. Beach E. coli concentrations are influenced by several environmental and climatic factors, which can result in changes to water quality conditions in a short period. A greater understanding of these factors could assist in timely decision-making processes.
We examined water quality data collected by public health authorities in Vancouver, Manitoba, Toronto and Niagara Region and linked it to environmental data collected from public databases. To identify environmental predictors, we applied various advanced analytic methods in a region-specific approach. Predictive models were then developed to guide beach managers in decision-making and risk communication to reduce recreational water illness risks among beachgoers.
Research on the environmental drivers of beach water quality in the Canadian context is limited. We aim to address this gap of knowledge with our multi-site project. This webinar will discuss recreational water quality in beaches located in four regions across Canada and present key findings of the project.