No-swimming advisory at Parlee Beach as temperatures soar

One of the first summer-like weekends of the year has brought with it a no-swimming advisory from the Department of Health for Parlee Beach.

The advisory was issued after heavy rainfall amounts which could lead to high bacteria levels in the water. The province will test the water and release the results in a day or two. 

The advisory comes as Environment Canada is forecasting a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 29 C for Shediac, but with the humidex the temperature will feel more like 34.

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No-swimming advisories were issued both Saturday and Sunday. The department of health urges residents and visitors to check before heading to the beach.

Arthur Melanson, a member of the Red Dot Association, a group that advocates for good water quality for the Shediac Bay, said under the old advisory system the water would just be listed as poor, which could be ambiguous.

"As a guy going to the beach looking at poor, what does it really mean? You didn't know what it meant unless you...had the pamphlet and was able to read what poor rating meant," he said.

Melanson is happy that the advisories are in place and the system appears to be working.

"It's a bit of a situation for the time being but I think for the public, if we're looking at health, we're better off to have a situation like that to determine where the problem is so it can be resolved," said Melanson.

Some visitors aren't heeding the warning though, as people can be seen swimming in the water at the beach, despite signs warning that it's not safe. 

Parlee Beach became notorious for water-quality issues after a CBC investigation unveiled that during many days in the summer of 2016, the water was not safe to swim in but some confusion over signage led many tourists to believe it was.

The Gallant government introduced new water-monitoring protocols in April, including posting signs that clearly indicate if the water is suitable for swimming.

Parlee Beach opened for the season on May 17. Including today there have been three days with a no-swimming advisory so far. All of the advisories were due to rainfall.