Recent water testing along Dyments Creek in Barrie has found high levels of E. coli, prompting the city to expand its water monitoring program.
According to a staff memo obtained by Compass News, samples were collected Aug. 22 from four culverts near George Street, Anne Street South, Innisfil Street and Bradford Street. The culverts are close to several homelessness encampments, including the now-closed site off Victoria Street near Anne St. S., where two homicides occurred earlier this summer.
E. coli levels ranged from 201 to 921 per 100 millilitres, all above the provincial guideline of 200. The highest readings were at Innisfil Street (921) and Bradford Street (727), followed by Anne Street South (291) and George Street (201).
City staff noted that E. coli testing is normally done weekly for drinking water systems, summer beaches and wastewater treatment plant effluent, but not usually as part of creek monitoring.
At an Aug. 13 executive committee meeting, Nuttall and councillors discussed concerns about encampments near Anne and John streets. Nuttall asked how often the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit tests water at Kempenfelt Bay as Dyments Creek feeds directly into the bay along Barrie’s lakeshore.
Rebecca James Reid, general manager of Access Barrie, said she believed testing at the bay occurs daily. But Chief Administrative Officer Michael Prowse told councillors he doubted the health unit had conducted regular testing near the encampment sites recently.
“We’ve had beach closures happening down at the beach because of E. coli,” Nuttall said during the meeting.
“Maybe I’m stretching here, but maybe I’m not. When you have 100 people using a washroom in a creek that’s going to our beach and you have high E. coli at the beach, at what point do you go, let’s go figure out what’s happening?”
Nuttall told Compass News public safety and community protection for residents remain top priorities for the city.
“Encampments located near rivers and streams pose serious risks, not only to the individuals living there but also to the broader community. Waterways flow downstream, and contaminants can impact drinking water, the natural environment and residents well beyond the encampment itself,” he said.
“That is why the city took the step of conducting testing, even when other agencies would not — it’s about ensuring the health and safety of everyone. At the same time, these sites create unsafe conditions for those living in them and for the surrounding neighbourhoods. If necessary, the city will act alone but prefers the cooperation and support of other agencies and partners to address risks, provide supports and ensure that encampments do not threaten public health or safety.”
In response to the findings, staff said a more vigorous sampling program will be launched in the coming weeks. It will cover all monitored city creeks and include multiple locations under different weather conditions.
The city said the expanded testing will help pinpoint potential contamination sources, provide better insight into surface water quality and determine whether mitigation measures are needed to protect public health and the environment.
