Whether or not my pasty white legs choose to agree, one thing is for sure, the weather here in Ontario is H-O-T and that means it is beach season.
Fortunately, I’m lucky enough to live within driving distance of the Great Lakes of Ontario, which means we have lots of beaches. Unfortunately, many times we have driven to one of these beaches and have either: a) gotten lost on the way to a beach which has resulted in a giant argument between myself and the GeekDad, or b) have gotten to a beach only to find that the water wasn’t suitable for swimming which has resulted in tears from the Geekling.
Arguments aside, the thought of swimming in a polluted lake isn’t exactly high on my list of things I’d like to do this summer, so I was thrilled when I was sent information about ‘The Swim Guide.’
The Swim Guide was created by a network of non-profit watershed protection groups and it provides real-time information about water quality and cleanliness for beaches right in our own backyard. The app uses data from more than 70 different beach monitoring sources and more than 70,000 points of data to confirm if the beaches in 3 provinces and 9 states are safe to swim in.
Swim Guide gives you the most up-to-date information about water quality at your beaches using a familiar 'Green, Amber, Red' scheme that is calculated based on current and historical beach status. And, with a companion iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch app available in the App Store or here, you can stay current on the beach information wherever you are!
I used the website and app to check on the status of the Sandbanks Provincial Park, and found it was a Green which means “This beach is currently open for swimming, based on most recent monitoring authority.” Great news for our upcoming camping weekend!
I should also note that since this app is developed by a non-profit, and they are providing the data for free. If you care about your beaches, you can donate to various provincial water keeper organizations by clicking here
So before you jump in Lake 'Wannagetapinkeye', check theswimguide.org online, or via their Apple apps and make sure you're hitting the best beach in your area. (And the beach, for the record is THAT way. And yes, I know you can't see me flexing, but just trust me on this one.)
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