Grey Bruce Public Health has told the City of Owen Sound to post Kelso Beach at Nawash Park as unsafe for swimming. Routine water sampling results released on Aug. 27, 2026 showed bacterial levels above Ontario Ministry of Health standards.
The beach will stay posted through the weekend after a second test the same day showed bacteria levels were still high. Public health staff plan to take more water samples early next week to see when levels might drop back to a safe range.
Swimming in water with elevated bacteria can raise the risk of skin, eye, ear, nose, and throat infections, as well as stomach illness. Beach water quality can change quickly because of heavy rain runoff, wind stirring up sediment, waterfowl waste, warm shallow water, pet waste, and farm runoff. High bacteria levels usually happen after weather-related events.
The splash pad at Kelso Beach is still open because it uses treated city water. Washrooms and drinking water at the park are also safe to use. The problem is only with the lake water for swimming.
This is the second time in August 2026 that Kelso Beach has been posted unsafe for swimming; the beach was also posted just before the Civic Holiday weekend, but that advisory was lifted on Aug. 5. Last year, an advisory lasted from Aug. 6 to Aug. 28, 2025. Grey Bruce Public Health will keep testing the water and lift the advisory when bacteria levels meet provincial guidelines.
